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Energetics of Shuttle Runs: The Effects of Distance and Change of Direction

Article in International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance · April 2014

DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2013-0258 · Source: PubMed

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International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2014, 9, 1033-1039
http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0258
© 2014 Human Kinetics, Inc.
www.IJSPP-Journal.com
ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

Energetics of Shuttle Runs: The Effects of Distance

and Change of Direction
Paola Zamparo, Ivan Zadro, Stefano Lazzer, Marco Beato, and Luigino Sepulcri

Shuttle runs can be used to study the physiological responses in sports (such as basketball) characterized by sprints (accelera-
tions/decelerations) and changes of direction. Purpose: To determine the energy cost (C) of shuttle runs with different turning
angles and over different distances (with different acceleration/deceleration patterns). Methods: Nine basketball players were
asked to complete 6 intermittent tests over different distances (5, 10, 25 m) and with different changes of direction (180° at 5
and 25 m; 0°, 45°, 90°, and 180° at 10 m) at maximal speed (v ≈ 4.5 m/s), each composed by 10 shuttle runs of 10-s duration
and 30-s recovery; during these runs oxygen uptake (VO2), blood lactate (Lab), and C were determined. Results: For a given
shuttle distance (10 m) no major differences where observed in VO2 (~33 mL · min–1 · kg–1), Lab (~3.75 mM), and C (~21.2 J ·
m–1 · kg–1) when the shuttle runs were performed with different turning angles. For a given turning angle (180°), VO2 and Lab
were found to increase with the distance covered (VO2 from 26 to 35 mL · min–1 · kg–1; Lab from 0.7 to 7.6 mM) while C was
found to decrease with it (from 29.9 to 10.6 J · m–1 · kg–1); the relationship between C and d (m) is well described by C = 92.99
× d0.656, R2 = .971. Conclusions: The metabolic demands of shuttle tests run at maximal speeds can be estimated based on the
running distance, while the turning angle plays a minor role in determining C.

Keywords: basketball, shuttle test, running economy, intermittent exercise

Basketball is a team sport played by both male and female demands on athletes than linear running at constant speed, and the
athletes in over 200 countries.1 This sport is characterized by an mechanical determinants of this “extra cost” were recently inves-
“intermittent game model” where players perform specific activities tigated by Minetti et al11,12 in walking and running while adopting
such as jumps, changes of direction, and sprints.2–7 acceleration/deceleration cycles (eg, at oscillating speed).
By means of time–motion analysis it was shown that players The energy expenditure during shuttle runs/sprint running
perform about 1000 movements (jogs, runs, sprints, and shuffles) can be estimated based on indirect approaches (eg, from data of
during a game and spend from 6% to 20% of the time in high- speed and acceleration that can be derived by match or video
intensity activities during the match.2–4,6 In addition, these move- analysis10,13,14). However, as shown by Buglione and di Prampero10
ments are very frequent, with a change of action (and of direction) these methods give reasonable estimates of C only for long shuttle
every 2 seconds.2 The physiological response of these activities is distances (eg, 20 m, like those generally used in team sports such
difficult to determine, and, indeed, the data reported in the litera- as soccer and rugby), whereas they tend to underestimate C in
ture are mainly of heart rate and blood lactate concentration during shorter shuttle runs (eg, 10 m). This depends on the assumptions on
the match.2–4,6,8 However, these measures only provide an indirect which these calculations are made (eg, that accelerated running on
estimate of the energy demands during a basketball competition.9 flat terrain is similar to running uphill at an “equivalent slope”13);
Shuttle runs are a type of intermittent exercise that can be the reader is referred to the Buglione and di Prampero10 article for
used to study the physiological responses of these high-intensity further details.
activities, since these running conditions (with changes of direc- As shown by Scanlan et al9 (in elite and subelite basketball
tion, accelerations, and decelerations) are closer to those observed players), the mean distances covered in jogging, running, and
during a match than continuous running is. However, the energy sprinting during a basketball match (live time) is shorter than 10
expenditure during a single shuttle run does not reach a steady state m: about 2.5 m jogging, 6 m running, and 4 to 9 m sprinting in
and thus cannot be easily determined; the studies on this topic are elite and subelite players. Thus, the indirect methods proposed in
indeed limited and refer essentially to shuttles of 10 to 20 m and to the literature10 cannot be applied in this team sport, where, due to
changes of direction of 180°.7,10 the limited space available in the game field, shorter shuttles are
These studies indicate that the cost of locomotion (C, the more common.
metabolic energy needed to cover the shuttle distance) is larger than Finally, as indicated previously, the energy expenditure of
that of linear running at constant speed; C is larger the higher the shuttle runs was measured with changes of direction of 180°
running speed and C is larger the shorter the shuttle distance.10 The only.7,10 Even if there are some studies in the literature that address
cost of decelerations and accelerations imposes larger physiological the biomechanical aspects of the change of direction,15,16 the effect
of different turning angles on the metabolic expenditure of shuttle
Zamparo and Beato are with the Dept of Neurological and Movement Sci- runs, to our knowledge, has not been investigated.
ences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Zadro, Lazzer, and Sepulcri are Based on these considerations, the aims of this study were (1)
with the Dept of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, to investigate the metabolic requirements of shuttle runs (at a given
Udine, Italy. Address author correspondence to Paola Zamparo at paola. change of direction: 180°) over different distances (5, 10, and 25 m),
[email protected]. extending the data reported so far in the literature (10 and 20 m)10 to
1033
1034  Zamparo et al

shorter (5 m, more common in a basketball competition) and longer was of 180°. A basketball match can be considered high-intensity
distances (25 m); (2) to investigate the metabolic requirements of intermittent exercise, but, during a game, basketball players cover
shuttle runs (over a given distance: 10 m) with different changes of shorter distances and use different changes of direction; thus, we
direction (0°, 45°, 90°, and 180°), extending the data reported so far wanted to test the effect of these parameters on the energetics of
in the literature (180°) to more acute (45° and 90°) and obtuse (no shuttle runs. We used the same experimental protocol validated in
change of direction) turning angles; and (3) to propose a method the previous study: an incremental test to determine the intensity of
to estimate the metabolic requirements of shuttle runs over the 5-m exercise (the shuttle speed) for each player and a series of shuttle
distance based on data/calculations reported/proposed by Buglione runs over different distances and with different changes of direction.
and di Prampero.10 With this approach we would like to give coaches a framework to
plan an appropriate training program (by showing the relationship
between C and shuttle speed, shuttle distance, and turning angle),
Methods as well as to provide data to be used in match analysis to assess the
energy requirements during a basketball match.
Subjects
The experiments were performed on 9 male basketball players Physiological Measures
whose principal anthropometric and physiological characteristics
are reported in Table 1. All players were recruited from the Snaidero Incremental Test. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was deter-
Basket junior team (Italian basketball, league A). An example of mined by means of an incremental test on a treadmill (Saturn, HP
their training schedule (120 min of technical and tactical practice, Cosmos, Germany) with increments of 0.5 km/h every 30 seconds
3 times per week) is given by Zadro et al.7 Before the study, the (at an incline of 1°) until exhaustion. Before beginning the test,
purpose and objectives of the research were carefully explained to subjects were familiarized with the equipment and the procedures.
each individual, and written informed consent was obtained from all At the beginning of this test, 4 minutes of data were obtained with the
adolescents and their parents. The study conformed to the standards subjects running at 10 km/h to determine the oxygen consumption
set by the Declaration of Helsinki, and the local institutional review at submaximal speed (VO2submax) and hence the energy cost of
board approved the procedures. linear running.
During these experiments, heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption
(VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), minute ventilation (VE),
Experimental Protocol and respiratory-exchange ratio (RER) were determined on a breath-
In a recent study we proposed a protocol of intermittent exercise to by-breath basis by means of a previously calibrated metabolimeter
train young basketball players,7 showing that our training program (Quark b2, Cosmed, Italy). Ventilatory threshold was determined by
was effective in reducing energy expenditure and blood lactate means of the V-method, as originally proposed by Wasserman et al.17
accumulation during shuttle runs; these runs lasted 10 seconds At the end of the incremental test a blood sample was obtained
with 30 seconds recovery (standing) in between. The total distance from the earlobe at the third to fifth minute of recovery to determine
covered was about 40 m (20 m before and 20 m after the turn; this blood lactate concentration (Lab) by means of a portable lactate
is generally referred as a 20-m shuttle) and the change of direction analyzer (Lactate Pro LT 1710, Arkray, Japan).
The following parameters were thus obtained:

Table 1 Anthropometric Characteristics of the Players • VO2max and the speed at which VO2max was reached (vmax).
and Physiological Data Obtained From the Incremental • VO2, HR, and speed at the ventilatory threshold (VO2thr, HRthr,
Test and vthr).
• vi (a speed corresponding to 120% of vthr); as indicated by
Characteristic Measure
Zadro et al7 this exercise intensity is sufficient to induce train-
Age (y) 15.0 ± 0.5 ing adaptations but not too high to induce substantial lactate
Body mass (kg) 79.8 ± 6.4
accumulation.
• The net energy cost of linear running from the ratio of net VO2
Height (m) 1.88 ± 0.08
to the speed (10 km/h): CLR = VO2net/v. In turn, VO2net was
Body-mass index (kg/m2) 22.6 ± 1.2 calculated as VO2submax – VO2rest, where VO2submax is the VO2
measured when running for 4 minutes at 10 km/h and VO2rest
VO2max (mL · min–1 · kg–1) 53.7 ± 2.9
is the oxygen uptake measured while standing on the treadmill
Maximal heart rate (beats/min) 189 ± 4.2 for 5 minutes before the incremental test. CLR was expressed
Oxygen uptake at VT (% of VO2max) 84.0 ± 2.9
in J · m–1 · kg–1 using an energy equivalent of 20.9 J/mL O2.

Heart rate at VT (% of HRmax) 91.0 ± 2.9 Shuttle Tests. The participants were asked to perform a series of
10 shuttle runs over different distances and with different changes
CLR (J · m–1 · kg–1) 3.97 ± 0.34
of direction (see Table 2).
Speed at VT (m/s) 4.00 ± 0.20 Shuttle runs were performed over the distances of 5, 10, and
Speed at VO2max (m/s) 4.51 ± 0.16
25 m (eg, in these shuttles the total distance covered was 10, 20,
and 50 m, respectively, half of it covered before the change of
vi (m/s) 4.80 ± 0.24 direction and half of it after it), with a 180° change of direction,
Abbreviations: VO2max: maximal oxygen uptake; VT, ventilatory threshold; HRmax, at an average speed equal to vi. The shuttle run over the 10-m
maximal heart rate; CLR, net energy cost of constant linear running; vi, intermittent distance was repeated with no change of direction (0°) and with
speed, corresponding to 120% of speed at VT. changes of 45° and 90°, at an average speed equal to vi. In the
 Energetics of Shuttle Runs   1035

Table 2 Schematic Representation of the

Experimental Protocol
Shuttle distance (m) Change of direction (°)
5 180
25 180
10 180
10 90
10 45
10 0

former case (no change of direction) the subjects had to stop after
the first 10 m and then resume running (as quickly as possible, as
during the other changes of direction) in the same direction for
the remaining 10 m.
During the experiments an acoustic device helped the play-
ers maintain the selected running speed (vi), and the actual speed
attained during each run was measured by means of a photocell Figure 1 — Typical tracing of oxygen uptake (VO2) as a function of time
system (Racetime 2, Microgate system, Italy). Each run was fol- (t) during a shuttle test over the 10-m distance with a change of direction of
lowed by 30 seconds of passive (standing) recovery. The intermittent 180°. After each bout of exercise VO2 increases sharply to further decrease
test lasted about 6 minutes. in the following 30 seconds of recovery. The values of VO2 reported in this
Before the beginning of the test, subjects were familiarized study (and the values of the other metabolic parameters) were obtained by
with the equipment and procedures, and 5 minutes of metabolic averaging the data obtained in the last 2 minutes of exercise (when a sort
data were obtained with the subjects standing to determine resting of steady state is reached).
metabolic rate.
During this test HR, VO2, VCO2, VE, and RER were collected
on a breath-by-breath basis by means of a previously calibrated The energy derived from anaerobic lactic sources, per unit of
portable metabolimeter (K4b2, Cosmed, Italy). At the end of the time and per kilogram of body mass (E′La, mL · min–1 · kg–1), can
test a blood sample was obtained from the earlobe at the third to be calculated by dividing Labnet by the number of exercise bouts
fifth minute of recovery to determine Lab by means of a portable (10) and by assuming an energy equivalent of 3.3 mL · kg–1 · mM–1,
lactate analyzer (Lactate pro LT 1710, Arkray, Japan). The following as follows18: E′La = (Labnet/10) × 3.3. Hence, the effective exercise
parameters were thus obtained: intensity during each running bout (E′tot bout, mL · min–1 · kg–1) can
be calculated as E′bout = E′O2 + E′La, and the net energy expenditure
• The average values of HR, VO2, VCO2, VE, and RER as mea- during the bout (Ebout net, mL/kg) can be calculated as Ebout = E′bout ×
sured in the last 2 minutes of exercise (when metabolic data te, where te is the duration (min) of each exercise bout. Finally, the
have reached a sort of steady state, see Figure 1). effective net energy cost of running during the intermittent exercise
• The Lab at the third to fifth minutes of recovery. (Cnet) can be calculated from the ratio of Ebout to the average distance
(d) covered during the bout19: Cnet = Ebout/d. Cnet was then expressed
All shuttle tests were performed within 2 weeks of the incre- in J · m–1 · kg–1 using an energy equivalent of 20.9 J/mL O2.
mental test; when more shuttle tests were performed on the same This set of calculations was recently proposed by Zadro et
day, they were separated by at least an hour of rest. al7 to assess the energy expenditure during supramaximal shuttle
The effective exercise intensity during each running bout (E′bout) runs over a 20-m distance. The reader is referred to that article for
was calculated on the basis of (1) the net VO2 measured between a detailed discussion of the energy balance in this type of intermit-
the 4th and 6th minute of exercise assuming that, in this condition, tent exercise. Suffice here to say that with this protocol (30 s of
almost all the energy is derived from oxidative sources, either to recovery between bouts) a complete replenishment of the anaerobic
sustain the energy needs during the bout or to replenish the phos- alactic energy stores occurs between bouts (during recovery), so
phocreatine stores depleted during the exercise, and (2) net Lab. In to assess metabolic energy expenditure, it is necessary to take into
turn, VO2net was calculated by subtracting resting metabolic rate consideration the aerobic and anaerobic lactic energy sources only.20
(measured in the same subjects while standing for 5 minutes before
the shuttle test) to the measured VO2 at steady state, and Labnet (the Statistical Analysis
net Lab accumulated at the end of the test) was calculated assuming
that Lab at rest equals 1 mM. Data are presented as mean ± SD. A Shapiro-Wilk test was per-
The energy derived from oxidative sources, per unit of time formed for the evaluation of normality (assumption) for statistical
and per kilogram of body mass (E′O2, mL · min–1 · kg–1), can be distribution. The effect of distance on the physiological variables
calculated as E′O2 = VO2net × ttot/te, where ttot/te is the ratio between investigated in this study was assessed by a 1-way ANOVA for
the overall duration of each subunit of an exercise cycle (ttot: a bout repeated measures, and the level of significance was set at P < .05.
plus its recovery period) and the duration of each exercise bout (te). When a significant F value was found, a Bonferroni post hoc test
This equation takes into account that te (as well as the work-to-rest was applied. The same procedure was used to assess the effect of
ratio) changes with the shuttle distance. the change of direction on the investigated physiological variables.
1036  Zamparo et al

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows (SPSS and 180°) are reported. No major differences among conditions were
Statistics 17.0). detected for v, VO2, VE, HR, and Ebout, whereas RER, Lab, and Cnet
were found to be significantly larger when the change of direction
was performed at 180° than at 90° (see also Table 4 for ANOVA
Results results). The values of Cnet reported in Table 3 are 5 times larger
In Table 1, the data collected during the incremental test are reported. than those of running at constant speed on flat terrain (about 4 J ·
The average VO2max was about 54 mL · min–1 · kg–1, and the ven- m–1 · kg–1, see Table 1) and are similar among conditions (range
tilatory threshold occurred at 84% of VO2max (91% of HRmax); the 20.5–22.14 J · m–1 · kg–1). These data indicate that for a given run-
corresponding average speed (vthr) was 4.00 m/s. The intensity of ning distance there are no major differences in energy cost when
the intermittent exercise (the intermittent speed, vi = 120% vthr) the shuttle runs are performed with different changes of direction
was then larger than the speed attained at VO2max (vi = 4.80 m/s (the effect size is rather small: .33; see Table 4). Differences in the
and vmax = 4.51 m/s). energy required to perform the change of direction are probably too
A typical tracing of VO2 as a function of time during a shuttle small to lead to substantial changes in the physiological parameters
run is reported in Figure 1 (10 m, 180°). After each bout of exer- except for the change of direction of 180°, which seems to be the
cise VO2 increases sharply to further decrease in the following 30 more demanding one.
seconds of recovery; in the last 2 to 3 minutes of exercise a sort of In Table 5 the data collected during the shuttle runs with a
steady state is reached (in all metabolic parameters). change of direction of 180° over 3 different distances (5, 10, and
In Table 3, the data collected during the shuttle runs over the 25 m) are reported. All parameters changed significantly among
10-m distance and with different changes of direction (0°, 45°, 90°, conditions (see Table 4 for ANOVA results). The players were not

Table 3 Physiological Data Collected During Intermittent Exercises (Shuttle Runs) Over a 10-m Distance With
Different Changes of Direction
Change of Direction

10 m 0° 45° 90° 180°

Average speed (m/s) 4.68 ± 0.24* 4.61 ± 0.24* 4.93 ± 0.20 4.51 ± 0.20*
Oxygen uptake (L/min) 2.80 ± 0.18 2.78 ± 0.21 2.75 ± 0.21 2.83 ± 0.27
Oxygen uptake (mL · min–1 · kg–1) 33.6 ± 1.94 33.3 ± 2.04 32.9 ± 1.74 33.9 ± 0.6
Heart rate (beats/min) 158 ± 6.7 163 ± 5.5 160 ± 8.9 163 ± 6. 9
Minute ventilation (L/min) 85.5 ± 7.1 88.1 ± 7.4 81.8 ± 0.1 89.8 ± 8.8
Respiratory-exchange ratio 0.99 ± 0.10* 0.91 ± 0.05† 0.87 ± 0.06 1.04 ± 0.09*
Net blood lactate concentration (mM) 3.4 ± 1.1 3.6 ± 1.1 2.8 ± 0.8 5.2 ± 1.9 *
Net energy expenditure during a shuttle run (mL/kg) 19.2 ± 1.1 19.0 ± 1.1 18.7 ± 0.9 19.5 ± 0.3
Net energy cost of shuttle running (J · m–1 · kg–1) 21.2 ± 1.0 21.2 ± 1.3 20.5 ± 1.0 22.1 ± 0.9*
*Statistical difference with 90° (P < .05). †Statistical difference with 180° (P < .05).

Table 4 Results of the Statistical Analysis (1-Way ANOVA)

Change of Direction Shuttle Distance

F3,24 P η2 F2,16 P η2

Average speed (m/s) 10.906 <.05 .45 293.432 <.001 .96

Oxygen uptake (L/min) 1.062 >.1 .01 24.995 <.05 .64

Heart rate (beats/min) 1.909 >.1 .07 59,059 <.001 .81

Minute ventilation (L/min) 5.372 <.05 .27 57.496 <.001 .81

Respiratory-exchange ratio 9.779 <.05 .42 10.576 <.05 .41

Net blood lactate concentration (mM) 7.695 <.05 .36 50.731 <.001 .79

Net energy expenditure during a shuttle run (mL/kg) 1.888 >.1 .99 51.719 <.05 .79

Net energy cost of shuttle running (J · m–1 · kg–1) 6.876 <.05 .33 380.477 <.001 .97
 Energetics of Shuttle Runs   1037

able to maintain the same average speed (vi) during these shuttles the 10-m distance the values of Cnet for all changes of direction are
(the shorter the distance, the lower the speed), so the metabolic dif- reported (0°, 45°, 90°, and 180°). This relationship is well described
ferences we observed can be also attributed to differences in speed. by the following equation: Cnet = 92.99 × d0.656 (N = 6, R2 = .971).
The values of Cnet reported in Table 5 are 2.5 to 7 times larger This equation can be used to estimate Cnet based on the distance
than those of running at constant speed on flat terrain (about 4 covered (d) when the players are running at (supramaximal) speeds
J · m–1 · kg–1, see Table 1). These data indicate that, for a given (eg, vi = 120% of vthr).
change of direction (180°), there are substantial differences in the In Figure 3 the values of Cnet are reported as a function of the
energetics of shuttle runs performed over different distances. Ebout average shuttle speed. The points referring to the 10- and 25-m
and Lab increased with the distance covered, from 14 to 23 mL/kg distances are close to those that can be calculated on the basis of the
and from 0.7 to 7.6 mM, respectively, whereas Cnet decreased with Cnet-versus-v relationships reported by Buglione and di Prampero10
the distance covered, from 30 to 11 J · m–1 · kg–1 (the effect size, in for shuttles of 10 and 20 m (which are indicated in the figure by
this case, is quite large: .97; see Table 4). the continuous lines). The dotted line in this figure represents the
The relationship between Cnet and the distance covered in a estimated Cnet-versus-v relationship for a shuttle over a distance of 5
shuttle run is reported in Figure 2. For the 5- and 25-m distances m, and the values of Cnet reported in thus study over this distance are
the points refer to the 180° change of direction only, whereas for not far from this equation. This equation (Cnet = 11.43 × v – 16.63)

Table 5 Physiological Data Collected During Intermittent Exercises (Shuttle Runs)

With a Change of Direction of 180° over 3 Different Distances
5m 10 m 25 m

Average speed (m/s) 3.74 ± 0.18*† 4.51 ± 0.20† 5.12 ± 0.23

Oxygen uptake (L/min) 2.15 ± 0.24*† 2.83 ± 0.27 2.78 ± 0.42
Oxygen uptake (mL · min–1 · kg–1) 25.9 ± 1.8*† 33.9 ± 0.6 34.9 ± 4.4
Heart rate (beats/min) 142 ± 7.8*† 163 ± 6. 9 163 ± 4.5
Minute ventilation (L/min) 61.0 ± 6.7*† 89.8 ± 8.8 99.3 ± 15.4
Respiratory-exchange ratio 0.88 ± 0.06*† 1.04 ± 0.09 1.14 ± 0.15
Net blood lactate concentration (mM) 0.7 ± 0.3*† 5.2 ± 1.9 7.6 ± 2.1
Net energy expenditure during a shuttle run (mL/kg) 14.1 ± 0.9*† 19.5 ± 0.3† 23.2 ± 3.0
Net energy cost of shuttle running (J · m–1 · kg–1) 29.9 ± 2.0*† 22.1 ± 0.9† 10.6 ± 1.2
*Statistical difference with 10 m. †Statistical difference with 25 m.

Figure 3 — Net energy cost of shuttle runs (Cnet, black dots) as a function
Figure 2 — Net energy cost of shuttle runs (Cnet) as a function of the of the shuttle average speed (v); bars represent 1 SD. The continuous lines
distance covered (d); bars represent 1 SD. The function relating these represent the C-versus-v relationship as determined by Buglione and di
parameters is well described by Cnet = 92.99 × d0.656, R2 = .971. The dotted Prampero10 over the 20-m (lower line) and 10-m (upper line) distances,
line represents the energy cost of linear-constant-speed running as measured whereas the dotted line (relating to the 5-m distance) was obtained as
in the same subjects (CLR = 3.97 J · m–1 · kg–1). indicated in the Discussion. See text for details.
1038  Zamparo et al

can thus be used to estimate Cnet based on the shuttle speed over a such as basketball where continuous accelerations and decelera-
distance of 5 m. Further details on how this equation was estimated tions over very short distances do not allow reaching a steady state
are reported in the Discussion section. in the cardiovascular parameters and thus could not be easily
determined.
Moreover, as indicated by Buglione and di Prampero,10 indirect
Discussion estimations of Cnet based on kinetic or energetic approaches can be
In this study the energy cost of shuttle runs with different changes applied to estimate the energy expenditure in shuttle runs over the
of direction and over different distances was investigated in young 20-m distance but largely underestimate Cnet for the 10-m distance.
basketball players. Our results indicate that in shuttle runs (with a This of course should be even more the case for shuttle runs over
change of direction of 180°) cardiorespiratory data, as well as blood even shorter distances (eg, 5 m).
lactate accumulation, increase with the shuttle distance while the
energy cost decreases. These data confirm and extend to shorter and Practical Applications
longer shuttle distances (5 and 25 m) data reported by Buglione and Our findings are relevant to understand the energy expenditure
di Prampero10 over 10- and 20-m distances. They further indicate
during bouts of action during a basketball match, as well as to cor-
that for the shorter distance (5 m) the players do not have enough
rectly determine the intensity of intermittent exercises based on
time to accelerate up to the target speed (4.8 m/s) so that the average
data of shuttle distance and speed.
speed at which the shuttle run is covered is lower than over longer
By means of time–motion analysis it is possible to categorize
distances (10 and 25 m).
the movements during a match.2,4,9 On the basis of the data reported
In shuttle runs over the 10-m distance and with different
in this study it is then possible to define the energy expenditure of
changes of direction (see Table 3) we did not find substantial dif-
multidirectional movements such as jogging, running, and sprint-
ferences in the parameters analyzed (and the effect sizes are rather
ing at different speeds and over different distances (see equations
small, see Table 4). Differences in the energy required to perform
above), while measuring the turning angles is unnecessary, as we
the change of direction are probably too small to lead to substantial
changes in the physiological parameters (as assessed with our pro- have shown.
tocol: intermittent tests at maximal speed composed by 10 shuttle Coaches might find this information useful for planning their
runs of 10-second duration and 30 seconds recovery). training sessions. The data of energy cost, speed, distance covered,
Although the turning angle does not affect the physiological and turning angle reported in this study indicate that the energy
responses of shuttle runs, differences in this parameter induce expenditure of shuttle runs can be “graded” simply by changing
significant changes in biomechanical factors such as braking and the speed and/or the distance covered.
propelling forces, joint loads, and change of momentum (before Intermittent training (through the use of sprints and shuttles
and after the turn),16 that is, on the rotational demands placed on with short recovery times) is of utmost importance in basketball,
the lower extremities, with implications for injury. because the resting time between bouts of action does not allow for
Data reported in Tables 3 and 5 and in Figure 2 indicate that the a full recovery during the game. It was reported that this training
energy cost of shuttle runs is larger than that of running at constant method is an effective means to improve physiological parameters
linear speed (about 4 J · m–1 · kg–1), as previously found by others,7,10 such as VO2max, enzyme activity, and anaerobic threshold,21,22 as
and that the increase is larger the shorter the shuttle distance (ie, well as oxidative capacity.7 These findings support the importance
the larger the acceleration/deceleration during the shuttle run). This of specific training exercises (such as shuttle runs) for improving
indicates that to increase the metabolic demands of a shuttle run performance in basketball players who are required, during a match,
(of a training protocol), only the distance of the shuttle should be to sustain repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise with frequent
manipulated (at a given exercise intensity, eg, at a given vi), while changes of direction and short recovery periods.
the turning angle is not a determining factor.
Buglione and di Prampero10 proposed 2 equations to describe Acknowledgments
the energy expenditure (Cnet) of shuttle runs over the distances of
We would like to thank the players of the Snaidero Basket junior team
10 m (CSh10 = 6.75 × v – 12.70) and 20 m (CSh20 = 2.34 × v – 1.83)
(Italian basketball league A) and their coaches for their kind cooperation.
in a range of speeds from 2.9 to 4.4 m/s. Based on these equations,
We also would like to thank Dr Emadi Andani Mehran for his help in data
and assuming a scaling factor proportional to the distance covered,
analysis and Rudy Fregolent for his help in data collection.
Slope (10 m) = 2 × slope (20 m) + a (6.75 = 2 × 2.34 + a)
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