Basketball Intervention Program in Children

Summary

The current project is a longitudinal, clinical study focused on evaluating the effects of a structured physical activity intervention in healthy prepubertal boys. The study will be conducted with the collaboration of the Pediatrics Department and the Nutrition and Metabolism Area of the Reina Sofía University Hospital in Córdoba; the Child Metabolism and Nutrigenomics. Metabolic Syndrome research groups at the Maimónides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC); and the Departments of Biochemistry at both the University of Córdoba and the University of Granada.

A total of 20 male participants, aged 9 to 12 years, will be selected. Inclusion criteria include being healthy, in Tanner stage I of pubertal development, and having anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters (weight, height, BMI, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) within the 50th percentile ±1 standard deviation. Children outside this range, or with signs of pubertal development, will be excluded.

The intervention consists of a 3-year physical activity program structured into two annual phases: a 6-week preseason beginning each September, followed by a 32-week season coinciding with the academic year. During the preseason, participants will undergo five weekly 2-hour training sessions. The season will include three 2-hour after-school training sessions per week, and one weekend match. Training sessions will be divided into two parts: individual skill development at moderate to high intensity (60-85% HR) and gameplay focusing on tactics and strategy. All sessions will be supervised by highly qualified coaches.

Physical fitness will be assessed through the Eurofit test battery, including the Course Navette, Sit and Reach, 30-second Sit-ups, and Standing Long Jump tests. Physical activity levels will be monitored using accelerometers, and data on weekly activity frequency, intensity, sedentary behavior, and leisure time will be collected. A comprehensive physical examination will include assessment of pubertal development, anthropometry, heart rate, and blood pressure. Body composition will be measured using TANITA BC-418 bioimpedance equipment, and will include height, weight, lean and fat mass, and body water percentage. Additionally, biochemical markers of general health, inflammation (via LINCOplex assays and Luminex xMAP technology), and oxidative stress will be analyzed.

Conditions

• Basketball

Interventions

OTHER

Basketball training (Sport and diet)

The intervention program will last for 3 years, and each year will be divided into two periods: a preseason, beginning in early September and lasting for the first 6 weeks, followed immediately by a 32-week season (until the end of the school year). The preseason will include 5 training sessions per week, each lasting 2 hours (Monday to Friday). The following season will include 3 training sessions per week, each lasting 2 hours (after school), and one match on the weekend. Each session will be divided into 2 periods separated by a 10-minute break: the first period will focus on individual skills with moderate to high-intensity exercises (60-85% of heart rate), and the second period will focus on gameplay (tactics and strategy). The trainers had a high level of professional training, ensuring the quality of the sessions. Dietary recommendations based on the Mediterranean diet will be given to the subjects.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

9 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-10-01

Primary Completion

2024-10-01

Completion

2024-10-01

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations