International Journal of Physiotherapy Research and Clinical Practice

Abstract

Objective: Athletic success depends on the endurance of the scapular and core muscles, especially in dynamic games like basketball where stability, agility, and injury avoidance are critical. This study looked at the relationship between scapular and core muscle endurance in collegiate basketball players as well as the relationship between these muscle endurance levels and athletic performance, namely agility. Methods: Forty-nine college basketball players (mean age: 24.20 ± 2.1 years, 61.2% male, 38.8% female) participated in this study. Core muscle endurance was assessed through tests measuring flexor and extensor endurance, as well as side-bridge endurance on both sides. Scapular muscle endurance was measured on the right and left sides. Agility was evaluated using standard tests. Measures of muscle endurance and agility performance were compared using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Findings: Agility and core extensor endurance were shown to be significantly positively correlated (R = 0.510, p = 0.001). Likewise, agility was positively correlated with both right- and left-side bridge endurance (right-side R = 0.482, p = 0.001; left-side R = 0.457, p = 0.001). However, there was no discernible relationship between agility and core flexor endurance. There were notable inverse relationships between total core muscle endurance and side bridge and core extensor endurance. Novelty: This study offers fresh perspectives on how scapular and core muscular endurance relate to one another, emphasising their critical roles in athletic performance, especially in dynamic sports, such as basketball. These findings also suggest that training programs should focus on enhancing both the muscle groups for optimal performance and injury prevention.

Keywords: Scapular endurance, Core endurance, Basketball performance, Agility