Effects of concurrent aerobic–anaerobic conditioning on aerobic capacity, anaerobic performance, and body composition in university basketball players: a randomized controlled trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15561/physcult.2026.0301Keywords:
aerobic fitness, anaerobic performance, neuromuscular performance, concurrent training, student athletes, physical educationAbstract
Background and Study Aim. Basketball performance depends on the effective development of both aerobic and anaerobic capacities. Conditioning programs that combine aerobic and anaerobic training are commonly used to improve physical fitness, performance, and body composition in basketball players. Although these approaches are widely applied in practice, their effectiveness in enhancing multiple performance-related outcomes remains of practical interest. This study investigated the effects of an eight-week aerobic–anaerobic conditioning program on aerobic fitness, anaerobic performance, and body composition in university-level basketball players.
Materials and Methods. This study employed a randomized controlled trial design. Thirty-four male university basketball players (18–25 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 17). In addition to regular basketball training, the experimental group completed a structured aerobic–anaerobic conditioning program three times per week, while the control group continued standard training only.
Results. Outcome measures included estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), maximal aerobic speed, time to exhaustion, heart rate recovery, repeated sprint ability, countermovement jump (CMJ), peak anaerobic power, and body composition. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA (group × time). Significant group × time interactions (p < 0.05) were observed for all performance variables. The experimental group showed improvements in estimated VO₂max (+5.8%), maximal aerobic speed (+4.9%), time to exhaustion (+11.6%), and heart rate recovery (+17.6%). Anaerobic performance also improved, reflected by reductions in repeated sprint time (−4.8%) and fatigue index (−18.2%), alongside increases in CMJ height (+9.1%) and peak anaerobic power (+7.9%). Body fat percentage decreased (−7.7%), while fat-free mass increased (+1.7%). No significant differences were observed between playing positions (p > 0.05).
Conclusions. An eight-week aerobic–anaerobic conditioning program appears to be an effective approach for improving multiple aspects of performance in university basketball players. The findings support the use of integrated conditioning strategies in both sports training and physical education settings.
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