Position-Specific Lower Limb Performance and AI-Based Injury Risk Analysis in Young Male Basketball Players

Position-Specific Lower Extremity Performance and Artificial Intelligence-Based Injury Risk Analysis in Young Male Basketball Players

This observational study aims to evaluate lower extremity performance characteristics in young male basketball players according to their playing positions and to explore injury risk patterns using artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis. Basketball requires frequent jumping, sprinting, rapid changes of direction, acceleration, deceleration, and single-leg movements, all of which place significant demands on lower extremity function.

Participants will undergo a single assessment session including anthropometric measurements and performance tests such as countermovement jump, reactive strength testing, single-leg performance tests, and agility assessments. Information regarding previous lower extremity injuries, training history, and playing position will also be collected.

The study will compare performance characteristics among different basketball positions, including guards, forwards, and centers. In addition, AI and machine learning techniques will be used to analyze the collected performance data and identify patterns associated with injury risk. The purpose of the AI analysis is not to diagnose injuries but to investigate whether combinations of performance variables can help identify athletes who may demonstrate higher-risk movement or performance profiles.

The findings may contribute to the development of position-specific training strategies, individualized performance monitoring, and evidence-based injury prevention approaches in youth basketball players.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletic Performance; Injury Prevention; Basketball Performance; Sports Injury Risk; Lower Extremity Performance; Youth Basketball Players
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Lower Extremity Performance Assessment

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 81

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34290
    • Istanbul Gelisim University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of youth male basketball players competing at the developmental level. Participants are recruited from basketball clubs and youth training programs and are classified according to their primary playing position, including point guard, shooting guard/small forward, power forward, and center.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male basketball players aged 12 to 18 years.
• Registered youth basketball athletes.
• Participation in regular basketball training for at least 1 year.
• Participation in basketball training at least 3 times per week.
• No acute lower extremity injury affecting performance testing within the previous 6 months.
• Ability to understand and follow testing instructions.
• Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian and assent provided by the participant.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lower extremity surgery within the previous 6 months.
• Acute musculoskeletal injury affecting test performance.
• Neurological, vestibular, or severe orthopedic conditions affecting balance, coordination, or motor performance.
• Pain, illness, fatigue, or any health condition that could affect performance on the assessment day.
• Cardiovascular or systemic conditions preventing completion of the testing protocol.
• Incomplete performance testing data or technically invalid measurements.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Point Guard Players; Young male basketball players whose primary playing position is point guard. Participants will undergo lower extremity performance assessments and AI-based injury risk analysis.	Diagnostic test: Lower Extremity Performance Assessment; Participants will complete lower extremity performance tests including countermovement jump, reactive strength index testing, single-leg performance tests, and agility/change-of-direction assessments. Performance data will be analyzed using artificial intelligence-based methods to explore injury risk patterns.
Shooting Guard / Small Forward Players; Young male basketball players whose primary playing position is shooting guard or small forward. Participants will undergo lower extremity performance assessments and AI-based injury risk analysi	Diagnostic test: Lower Extremity Performance Assessment; Participants will complete lower extremity performance tests including countermovement jump, reactive strength index testing, single-leg performance tests, and agility/change-of-direction assessments. Performance data will be analyzed using artificial intelligence-based methods to explore injury risk patterns.
Power Forward Players; Young male basketball players whose primary playing position is power forward. Participants will undergo lower extremity performance assessments and AI-based injury risk analysis.	Diagnostic test: Lower Extremity Performance Assessment; Participants will complete lower extremity performance tests including countermovement jump, reactive strength index testing, single-leg performance tests, and agility/change-of-direction assessments. Performance data will be analyzed using artificial intelligence-based methods to explore injury risk patterns.
Center Players; Young male basketball players whose primary playing position is center. Participants will undergo lower extremity performance assessments and AI-based injury risk analysis.	Diagnostic test: Lower Extremity Performance Assessment; Participants will complete lower extremity performance tests including countermovement jump, reactive strength index testing, single-leg performance tests, and agility/change-of-direction assessments. Performance data will be analyzed using artificial intelligence-based methods to explore injury risk patterns.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Countermovement Jump Height	Vertical jump height measured during the countermovement jump (CMJ) test using an artificial intelligence-based performance assessment system.	Baseline assessment (single session)
Reactive Strength Index (RSI)	Reactive strength performance calculated from jump height and ground contact time during reactive jump testing.	Baseline assessment (single session)
AI-Based Injury Risk Classification Score	Injury risk profile generated using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms based on lower extremity performance variables, asymmetry measures, agility performance, and injury history.	Baseline assessment (single session)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Single-Leg Hop Performance	Distance and performance outcomes obtained from right and left single-leg hop tests used to evaluate unilateral lower extremity function and limb asymmetry.	Baseline assessment (single session)
Time to Complete the T-Test Agility Assessment (seconds)	Time required to complete the standardized T-Test agility assessment. Lower completion times indicate superior agility and change-of-direction ability in young basketball players.	Baseline assessment (single session)
Limb Symmetry Index Calculated from Single-Leg Countermovement Jump Height (%)	Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) calculated as the ratio between dominant and non-dominant lower extremity performance during the single-leg countermovement jump test. Values closer to 100% indicate greater inter-limb symmetry.	Baseline assessment (single session)
Previous Lower Extremity Injury History	Self-reported history of lower extremity injuries occurring within the previous 12 months.	At study enrollment
Countermovement Jump Height Measured by the D-Wall Athlete Performance System (cm)	Countermovement jump height obtained from the D-Wall Athlete Performance System and compared among point guards, shooting guards/small forwards, power forwards, and centers.	Baseline
Acceleration and Deceleration Scores Measured by the D-Wall Athlete Performance System (%)	Acceleration and deceleration performance scores generated by the D-Wall Athlete Performance System during athletic performance testing. These scores quantify the athlete's ability to rapidly increase and decrease movement velocity.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul Gelisim University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 22, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 22, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 24, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 24, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: IGU-SINTECH-BASKET-AI-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No