(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to establish ankle joint dorsiflexion reference values among youth federated basketball players. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional study. The participants were basketball players who belonged to youth basketball developmental teams (female and male) from under-12 (U12) to under-17 (U17) categories. Ankle joint dorsiflexion range of motion was evaluated with the weight-bearing lunge test through the Leg Motion system. The distance achieved was recorded in centimeters. (3) Results: 693 basketball players who met the eligibility criteria and volunteered to participate were included in the study. The mean (SD) of ankle joint dorsiflexion was 10.68 (2.44) cm and the reference values were: excessive hypomobility < 6.09 (0.54) cm; hypomobility 6.09 (0.88) cm–8.43 (0.77) cm; normal 8.44 (0.77)–13.11 (0.79) cm; hypermobility 13.11 (0.74)–15.44 (0.86) cm; and excessive hypermobility >15.44 (0.86) cm. (4) Conclusions: This study provides ankle joint dorsiflexion reference values in youth basketball players from 12 to under 17 years old.

(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and to detect neuromuscular deficiencies in static and dynamic tests among federated youth basketball players. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional study with 778 basketball players. Specific tests and trials were conducted to evaluate members of teams from several clubs in male and female from under 12 (U12) to under 17 (U17) categories. The evaluations consisted of static physical measurements and dynamic measurements. (3) Results: 575 players were included in this study. A total of 95% of participants are unable to keep their ankle stable in monopodial loading; 86% present dynamic lower extremity valgus with statistically significant differences between categories (p = 0.004); 94% are unable to keep the pelvis stable when performing a single-leg squat; 93% are unable to keep their trunk stable when performing the same movement. During landing, 96% present dynamic lower extremity valgus. The thighs of 92% do not reach parallel (peak of jump). (4) Conclusions: The most frequent neuromuscular deficits in federated youth basketball players are related to instability, the most frequent being ankle instability, followed by lumbo-pelvic instability, dynamic postural instability and dynamic knee valgus. Deficits in jumping/landing technique are also very frequent in all the items analyzed (jumping, landing and plyometrics). The performed tests, which mostly showed a poor performance by the sample, can be indicative of injury probability.

Background: Tendon structure is related to the magnitude of load and its management, rather than directly predicting pain incidence. Although pain symptoms frequently persist until they severely impact performance, function, and tendon structure, professional basketball players often manage patellar tendon pain alongside high training and competition loads. The aim of this study was to investigate patellar tendon structural adaptations over 8 months of training and competition in professional female and male basketball players. Methods: The primary outcome of this study was defined as the change in the percentage of echo-type II structure from baseline to 8 months. A prospective cohort study was conducted where 43 professional basketball players (20 male, 23 female) were followed during 8 months of training and competition. A bilateral patellar tendon ultrasound tissue characterization (UTC) scan was conducted, and jumping leg (jumping/non-jumping), presence of pain (yes/no), and exposure time (hours) were recorded at baseline, and at 4 and 8 months in the competitive season. Results: The mid-tendon exhibited negative adaptations (decreased alignment), represented by echo-type II, after 8 months of competition (left; p = 0.001; ES = 2.16; right; p = 0.001; ES = −1.35). Positive adaptations (increased alignment], were observed in echo-types III (p = 0.004; ES = −1.04) and IV (p = 0.001; ES = −0.15), after 4 and 8 months. Tendon structure showed differences between female and male professional basketball players throughout the 8 months (echo-type II; p = 0.00; ES = 0.34). Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the tendon structure undergoes significant adaptations, supporting the concept that the patellar tendon adapts to compensate for areas of structure disorganization. Female professional basketball players appeared to maintain a more organized tendon structure than their male counterparts. Jumping leg and presence of pain did not show significant differences in tendon structure over the study period. This research has significant implications for elite sport, as a better understanding of tendon load capacity throughout a competitive season is needed.