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106
Articles
Yohandis Abad Camejo
INDER municipal de Mayari, Cuba
abadcamejo@uho.edu.cu
ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1745-7172
Francisco Freyre Vázquez
Universidad de Holguín, Cuba
ffreyrev@uho.edu.cu
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9553-0626
Roberto Soto Antomarchy
INDER municipal de Holguín, Cuba
sotoamarchyroberto@gmail.cm
ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1253-8107
Abstract: Introduction: The standing long jump
(SLJ) is a fundamental test for assessing explosive
power in youth basketball. However, the scientific
literature has paid little attention to the kinematic
pattern of this gesture in this population, limiting
the ability to prescribe technique-based training.
Objective: Analyze the joint movement pattern
(ankle, knee, and hip) during the take-off phase of
the standing long jump in 12 youth basketball
players, incorporating body composition variables
(muscle mass, fat percentage) for a better
correlational analysis. Materials and methods: A
descriptive study was conducted with 12 youth
basketball players (age 16.3 ± 1.2 years; weight 78.4
± 9.6 kg; height 186.5 ± 7.2 cm; body fat 14.8 ±
3.2%; muscle mass 42.1 ± 3.5%). SLJ kinematics
were recorded using 2D videography at 240 fps.
Maximum flexion angles of the ankle, knee, and
hip were analyzed during the maximum flexion
phase (countermovement), as well as take-off
angles. Results: The joint pattern showed high
ankle range of motion (56.2 ± 7.1°), moderate knee
flexion (96.5 ± 9.4°), and deep hip flexion (114.8
± 11.3°). Athletes with greater jump distance
(>240 cm) had higher muscle mass percentage
(45.2 ± 2.1% vs. 39.8 ± 2.5%) and lower body fat
(12.1 ± 1.5% vs. 17.2 ± 2.8%). Conclusions: The
kinematic pattern of the SLJ in youth basketball
players is characterized by high ankle involvement
and a hip extension strategy. Body composition,
especially muscle mass and fat percentage, is
significantly associated with performance and
movement pattern, allowing more precise
individualized training guidance.
Keywords: karate; biomechanics; horizontal jump;
efficiency; power.
The pattern of movements in the horizontal jump in baloncestistas the
Holguín
Yohandis Abad Camejo
1
; Francisco Freyre Vázquez
2
& Roberto Soto Antomarchy
3
RIAF. International Journal of Physical Education
Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador
Frequency: Semi-annual
Vol. 4, N° 2, 2026
revista.riaf@ug.edu.ec
Received: May 30th, 2026
Approved: July 1
st
, 2026
Published: July 25
th
, 2026
URL: https://revistas.ug.edu.ec/index.php/riaf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53591/riaf.v4i2.3340
RIAF ISSN Journal: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026
107
Introduction
Basketball in the youth category demands from players a complex neuromuscular profile that
combines absolute power, jumping efficiency, and the capacity to generate horizontal projection in
confined spaces. Numerous authors have highlighted that young basketball players require explosive
manifestations of strength in actions such as rebounding, displacements, changes of direction, and
finishing plays (Petway et al., 2020; Alemdaroğlu, 2022).
In this regard, Bishop et al. (2022) recognize that the bipodal standing long jump (SLJ) constitutes a
field test widely used to assess this capacity, but traditionally analyses have focused on distance achieved
or power generated, neglecting the study of the underlying movement pattern and its relationship with
body composition.
The joint movement pattern in the standing long jump refers to the sequence and magnitude with
which the ankle, knee, and hip joints participate during the countermovement and take-off phases.
Similarly, Bramah et al. (2021) and Kipp et al. (2021) propose that an optimal pattern is characterized
by adequate synchronization of the extension of the three joints (triple extension), as well as ranges of
motion that allow maximizing impulse without compromising stability.
In this sense, the technical movement pattern (PaMoTe) is the ideal and abstract representation of a
sequence of movements that constitute the basis of a specific technical action in a given sport.
In this regard, Lesinski et al. (2020) specify that in youth populations, variability in movement pattern
is high, influenced by maturational status, sports experience, and individual anthropometric
characteristics. Body composition (muscle mass, fat) plays a determining role in power production and
movement efficiency, so its inclusion in kinematic analysis allows for a more comprehensive
understanding of performance.
In line with these approaches, the technical movement pattern is a coordinated and predictable
sequence of muscular and joint actions that are repeated to perform a specific motor task. It is not an
isolated exercise but a neurological model that the central nervous system uses to produce movements
that constitute the basis of a specific technical action in a given sport (Padel-Miralles et al., 2025).
RIAF ISSN Journal: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026
108
Furthermore, the technical movement pattern
is the basic language of the body. Mastering this
vocabulary (push, pull, squat, hinge, etc.) is the
prerequisite for an athlete to perform complex
technical gestures efficiently, powerfully, and,
above all, safely.
Understanding how body segments are
organized during the standing long jump is
fundamental for optimizing performance and
preventing injuries. Recent biomechanical studies
have established that horizontally oriented jumps
are characterized by high joint ranges of motion,
especially in the ankle joint during the support
phase (Kipp et al., 2021). Compared to vertical
jumps, the standing long jump presents greater
hip mobility and a strategy of decoupling between
the hip and knee during the flight phase, allowing
for a more horizontal projection of the center of
mass (Bramah et al., 2021). However, evidence on
the specific kinematic pattern in youth category
basketball players is still limited, and there are no
detailed descriptions of the characteristic joint
angles of this gesture in relation to body
composition in this population (Harieche, 2025;
Pino-Ortega et al., 2021).
Estos resultados permitieron a los autores de
la presente investigación determinar como These
results allowed the authors of the present
investigation to determine as the research
objective: to analyze the joint movement pattern
(ankle, knee, and hip) during the take-off phase of
the standing long jump in 12 youth basketball
players.
Materials and Methods
A descriptive study was conducted with 12
youth basketball players belonging to a provincial
category. The sample was selected through
purposive sampling, meeting the following
inclusion criteria: (1) age between 15 and 17 years,
(2) minimum two years of experience in federated
basketball, (3) absence of injuries in the last three
months, and (4) ability to perform the standing
long jump without limitations. All participants
and their guardians signed the informed consent
form, in accordance with the Declaration of
Helsinki (World Medical Association, 2022).
Techniques and Instruments
An observational, descriptive-correlational
study with a cross-sectional design was conducted
at the facilities of the Sports Biomedicine
Laboratory of Holguín, during the special training
period (January–March 2026). The study was
approved by the Ethics Committee of the Study
Center of the Faculty of Physical Culture of
Holguín (Minutes No. CEI-2026-014).
Table 1.
General anthropometric and body composition characteristics of the basketball players
Basketball
Player
Age (years)
Weight
(kg)
Height
(cm)
% Fat
% Muscle Mass
1
16
82
192
12.5
44.2
2
17
88
198
14.2
42.8
3
15
74
184
16.8
40.1
4
16
70
178
17.5
39.2
5
17
85
196
13.0
43.5
6
15
68
176
18.2
38.5
7
16
82
194
12.8
44.0
8
17
90
200
14.5
42.5
9
15
72
180
17.0
39.8
10
16
78
188
15.0
41.2
11
17
86
195
13.5
43.0
RIAF ISSN Journal: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026
109
The sample presents high homogeneity in
height (CV% = 3.9%) and moderate variability in
weight (12.2%) and muscle mass percentage
(8.3%). The fat percentage shows higher
variability (21.6%), reflecting differences in body
composition typical of the youth category. These
values are consistent with those reported in
competitive-level youth basketball players
(McKay et al., 2022).
The evaluations were conducted in a single
morning session on a regulation basketball court
with a non-slip surface. Following a standardized
15-minute warm-up (joint mobility, muscle
activation, and low-intensity jumps), each athlete
performed three attempts of the bipodal standing
long jump with arm assistance, recording the best
distance. Simultaneously, recordings were made
in the sagittal plane using a GoPro Hero 10 Black
camera (240 fps, 1080p resolution), positioned 5
meters away perpendicular to the jump plane and
at a height of 1 meter.
Body composition was determined following
standard protocols: measurement in a fasting
state, without prior exercise, with an empty
bladder, and under controlled temperature
conditions.
Kinematic Analysis: Videos were analyzed
using Kinovea software (version 0.9.5). The
following key phases of the jump were selected:
(1) initial position (standing), (2) maximum joint
flexion (countermovement), (3) take-off instant
(loss of ground contact). The following joint
angles in the sagittal plane were calculated:
• Ankle: angle between the foot and the leg.
Dorsiflexion < 90°, plantar flexion > 90°.
• Knee: posterior angle between the thigh
and the leg. Flexion < 180°.
• Hip: anterior angle between the trunk
and the thigh. Flexion < 180°.
Additionally, the duration of the support phase
(from the start of countermovement to take-off)
was determined, and take-off velocity was
calculated as the distance traveled by the center of
mass during the last 0.1 seconds of support.
To identify kinematic patterns, a cluster
analysis (Ward's method) and a Pearson
correlation analysis were performed between
joint angles, body composition variables, and
jump distance (p < 0.05). Horizontal jump
performance and body composition: The mean
distance achieved by the group was 234.6 ± 14.3
cm (range: 210–258 cm), with a coefficient of
variation of 6.1%.
The mean power estimated using the formula
of (Loturco et al. 2021) was 16,002 ± 1,012 W,
with a mean relative power of 204.1 ± 12.3 W/kg.
When analyzing the relationship with body
composition, it was observed that basketball
players with a greater jump distance (>240 cm)
had a significantly lower body fat percentage (12.1
± 1.5% vs. 17.2 ± 2.8%; p < 0.01) and a higher
muscle mass percentage (45.2 ± 2.1% vs. 39.8 ±
2.5%; p < 0.01) compared to those with lower
performance.
12
16
76
186
16.0
40.5
Mean
16.3
78.4
186.5
14.8
42.1
SD
1.2
9.6
7.2
3.2
3.5
CV%
7.4
12.2
3.9
21.6
8.3
RIAF ISSN Journal: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026
110
Tabla 2.
Kinematic variables of joint angles during the standing long jump
Joint
Phase
Angle (degrees)
CV (%)
Range
Ankle
Ankle
Ankle
Maximum flexion
56.2 ± 7.1
12.6
46–72
Take-off
114.5 ± 9.2
8.0
98–128
Range of motion
58.3 ± 10.4
17.8
42–76
Knee
Knee
Knee
Maximum flexion
96.5 ± 9.4
9.7
82–112
Take-off
158.4 ± 7.1
4.5
146–168
Range of motion
61.9 ± 10.8
17.4
48–82
Hip
Hip
Hip
Maximum flexion
114.8 ± 11.3
9.8
98–132
Take-off
170.2 ± 6.4
3.8
160–178
Range of motion
55.4 ± 12.6
22.7
42–76
The joint pattern in the maximum flexion phase shows pronounced ankle dorsiflexion (56.2°),
moderate knee flexion (96.5°), and deep hip flexion (114.8°). The most variable range of motion
corresponds to the hip (CV% = 22.7%). At take-off, all joints show high extension with low variability
(CV% < 5% in hip and knee), reflecting a consistent terminal extension pattern.
Table 3.
Comparative results of kinematic subpatterns
Variable
Pattern A
(n=7) "Power"
Pattern B
(n=5) "Speed"
Difference
p
Jump distance (cm)
244.2 ± 7.8
221.2 ± 8.4
+23.0
<0.01
Relative power (W/kg)
210.5 ± 5.6
195.1 ± 6.8
+15.4
<0.01
% Muscle mass
45.2 ± 2.1
39.8 ± 2.5
+5.4
<0.01
% Fat
12.1 ± 1.5
17.2 ± 2.8
-5.1
<0.01
Maximum hip flexion (°)
120.2 ± 7.2
107.2 ± 6.4
+13.0
<0.01
Maximum knee flexion
(°)
97.8 ± 8.6
94.6 ± 10.2
+3.2
0.48
Maximum ankle flexion
(°)
52.4 ± 4.8
61.6 ± 5.4
-9.2
<0.01
Support phase duration
(s)
0.54 ± 0.07
0.44 ± 0.05
+0.10
0.02
Basketball players in Pattern A ("Power") present a more favorable body composition (higher muscle
mass and lower fat), greater hip flexion and less ankle flexion, with a longer support time and a jump
distance superior by 23 cm. Pattern B ("Speed") shows a less favorable body composition, prioritizes
greater ankle flexion and a briefer support phase, reflecting a more elastic but less efficient strategy for
horizontal impulse generation.
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Table 4.
Correlation matrix between kinematic variables, body composition, and jump performance
Variable
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1. Jump distance
—
2. % Muscle mass
0.82**
—
3. % Fat
-0.79**
-0.88**
—
4. Hip flexion
0.71**
0.68*
-0.62*
—
5. Ankle flexion
-0.62*
-0.58*
0.55*
-0.51
—
6. Take-off
velocity
0.74**
0.65*
0.71**
-0.63*
-0.48
—
7. Support
duration
0.58*
0.61*
-0.55*
0.72**
-0.44
0.52
—
*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01
Muscle mass percentage shows the strongest
correlation with jump distance (r = 0.82; p <
0.01), followed by take-off velocity (r = 0.74) and
hip flexion (r = 0.71). Fat percentage correlates
negatively with performance (r = -0.79).
Ankle flexion shows a moderate negative
correlation (r = -0.62), suggesting that greater
dorsiflexion in the countermovement could be
unfavorable when associated with lesser hip
involvement. These findings confirm the
importance of body composition and joint
kinematics as interrelated determinants of
standing long jump performance in youth
basketball players.
Baskteball players in Pattern A ("Power") not
only showed better body composition indicators
but also a movement strategy based on greater hip
flexion (120.2° vs. 107.2°) and lesser ankle flexion
(52.4° vs. 61.6°). This configuration suggests that
the development of muscle mass, especially of the
posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings), allows for a
greater contribution of the hip in the
countermovement.
Discussion
The studies by Kipp et al. (2021) with young
athletes and Bramah et al. (2021) on the
relationship between hip strength and sagittal
plane trunk and pelvis motion during running,
although in different sports contexts, coincide in
pointing to the hip as a key joint for horizontal
impulse generation.
The application of these principles to youth
basketball is direct, since the capacity to project
horizontally is critical in actions such as the
defensive first step or transition take-off.
Conversely, basketball players with higher fat
percentage and lower muscle mass (Pattern B)
seem to compensate for their strength deficit with
greater ankle involvement and a briefer support
phase, a less efficient strategy that limits the
distance achieved. This observation is consistent
with the findings of a study that compared
standing long jump kinematics in children aged 6
to 12 years (Fernández-Santos et al., 2018).
In that pediatric population, it was observed
that older and more mature children tended to
use a "hip-dominant" strategy, while younger or
less mature children employed an "ankle-
dominant" strategy. This suggests that the
movement pattern in the standing long jump is
not fixed but evolves with maturation and
strength, a crucial aspect in the development of
young basketball players. Furthermore, a recent
study evaluating the impact of differential
plyometric training based on velocity and
acceleration in young basketball players (with a
sample of 26 players aged 14 to 18 years) found
that the experimental group significantly
improved bilateral countermovement jump
height and showed moderate improvements in
agility (Pino-Ortega et al., 2021).
RIAF ISSN Journal: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026
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These results highlight the importance of
specific training to optimize the movement
pattern, especially in developing youth basketball
players. The identification of kinematic
subpatterns is a necessary preliminary step to
prescribe the most appropriate type of training: a
basketball player with a "speed" pattern would
benefit more from posterior chain strength work,
while one with a "power" pattern might require
plyometric exercises emphasizing ankle stiffness..
Conclusions
1. Body composition, specifically muscle
mass percentage (r = 0.82) and fat
percentage (r = -0.79), presents a very
strong correlation with standing long
jump performance in youth basketball
players, exceeding in magnitude the
correlations observed with isolated
kinematic variables.
2. Two kinematic subpatterns associated
with different body composition profiles
were identified. Pattern A ("Power") is
characterized by greater muscle mass,
lower fat, greater hip flexion, and lesser
ankle flexion, achieving a jump distance
23 cm superior to Pattern B ("Speed").
3. The integrated assessment of joint
kinematics and body composition allows
for more precise training prescription: for
athletes with a "speed" profile or excess
fat, priority should be given to developing
muscle mass (especially the posterior
chain) and improving hip flexion
technique, rather than working
exclusively on execution speed.
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Declaration of conflicto of interests: The
authors affirm that the research is original and
presents no conflicts of interest for the
publication of its results in accordance with the
editorial policies of the RIAF Journal.
Declaration of Authors’ Participation
Yohandis Abad Camejo: Participated in the
development of the measurement instruments
and the correlational statistical analysis.
Francisco Freyre Vázquez: Conducted the
literature search, developed the introduction,
discussion, and conclusions.
Roberto Soto Antomarchy: Conducted the
application of measurements and data collection.