Physiological Responses to Basketball-Specific Interval Exercise in Female Basketball Players

Overview

This study aims to evaluate the effects of interval exercise on metabolic and inflammatory responses, energy substrate utilization, and fatigue in trained female basketball players. High-intensity intermittent exercise is a key component of basketball performance and induces substantial metabolic and physiological stress. However, the acute relationships between exercise-induced metabolic changes, inflammatory responses, substrate utilization, and fatigue in female basketball players remain insufficiently understood. In this prospective interventional study, eligible female basketball players will complete a standardized interval exercise protocol designed to replicate the physiological demands of competitive basketball. Physiological, biochemical, and perceptual measurements will be collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and during recovery. Primary outcomes include changes in metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, energy substrate utilization, and fatigue-related responses. Secondary outcomes include selected physiological and performance-related variables associated with recovery from high-intensity interval exercise. The findings of this study will improve the understanding of the physiological responses to interval exercise in female basketball players and may contribute to the development of evidence-based training and recovery strategies aimed at optimizing performance and athlete health.

High-intensity intermittent exercise is a fundamental component of basketball and is characterized by repeated bouts of sprinting, jumping, rapid changes of direction, and brief recovery periods. This type of exercise places substantial demands on both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems and induces complex metabolic and inflammatory responses. Although numerous studies have investigated the physiological effects of high-intensity exercise, the interactions among exercise-induced inflammation, metabolic regulation, energy substrate utilization, and fatigue in female basketball players remain insufficiently understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of basketball-specific interval exercise on metabolic and inflammatory responses, energy substrate utilization, and psychophysiological fatigue in trained female basketball players. The exercise stimulus will consist of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), a validated field test that closely simulates the intermittent high-intensity demands of competitive basketball by requiring shuttle runs interspersed with short active recovery periods. Participants will attend a single experimental session consisting of baseline assessments, completion of a standardized interval exercise protocol, and follow-up assessments during the early recovery period. Biological samples, physiological measurements, and fatigue assessments will be obtained at predefined time points before exercise, immediately after exercise, and one hour after exercise. Laboratory analyses will evaluate selected inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers together with indicators of energy substrate utilization. In addition, subjective fatigue and neuromotor performance will be assessed to characterize both peripheral and central aspects of exercise-induced fatigue. To minimize potential confounding factors, participants will follow standardized pre-test instructions regarding physical activity, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and nutritional preparation before testing. Nutritional intake and anthropometric characteristics will also be documented to support the interpretation of physiological responses. By integrating biochemical, metabolic, physiological, and psychophysiological measurements within a basketball-specific exercise model, this study aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying acute responses to high-intensity intermittent exercise in female athletes. The findings may contribute to evidence-based strategies for monitoring training load, optimizing recovery, and improving performance in women's basketball and other intermittent team sports.