Rhythmic Exercises Before Basketball Training: A Study on Motor Skills, Static Balance, and Reaction Speed in School-Aged Children

Abstract Racil, G, Padulo, J, Trabelsi, Y, Frizziero, A, Russo, L, and Migliaccio, GM. Rhythmic exercises before basketball training: A study on motor skills, static balance, and reaction speed in school-aged children. J Strength Cond Res 38(12): e761–e768, 2024—The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of combining rhythmic exercises with basketball training on the improvement of basic motor and physical skills in children. Thirty-four female subjects, all from the same secondary school and aged 12 ± 0.7 years, participated in a 6-week training program (3 times per week). They were randomly divided into 3 groups: one group practiced rhythmic exercises in combination with basketball training (R-BT, n = 12), another group practiced basketball only (BT, n = 11), and a control group (CON, n = 11). The subjects underwent assessments that included regular and irregular rhythmic exercises, flexibility, coordination, and static balance. After the intervention, all groups showed improvements in their motor skills (MS) when they followed a regular rhythm. The R-BT group showed significantly higher performance in hopping and jumping from preintervention to postintervention [p = 0.003, effect size (ES) = 0.67 and p = 0.005, ES = 0.64, respectively] and differed significantly from the other 2 groups (p < 0.01). In addition, the R-BT group showed a greater improvement in the implementation of irregular rhythms (p < 0.001) and differed significantly from the other groups in all parameters (p < 0.01). The Stork Stand Balance Test improved in the R-BT group and outperformed the other 2 groups, whereas the Alternate-Hand Wall-Toss Test improved in both the R-BT and the BT groups compared with the control group, indicating better coordination. In summary, basketball training preceded by a regular rhythm can lead to greater improvement in MS, resulting in improved coordination and leg stability. These results could be considered crucial for young school-age children who play basketball.