French Contrast Training in Male Collegiate Basketball Players

NCT07776808 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CQUE-LL20260331009
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of 12 weeks of French Contrast Training (FCT) compared with traditional resistance training (RT) on lower-limb explosive performance in male collegiate basketball players. Forty participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the FCT group or the RT group. Both groups trained twice per week for 12 weeks, with at least 48 hours between sessions. Lower-limb performance was assessed before and after the intervention using countermovement jump height, drop jump height, ground contact time, reactive strength index, 10-m sprint time, and isometric mid-thigh pull peak force. The study aimed to determine whether FCT produces greater improvements in jumping performance, reactive strength, short-distance acceleration, and maximal force than traditional resistance training.

Conditions

Lower-Limb Explosive Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Countermovement Jump Height

  Countermovement jump (CMJ) height was assessed using a force platform system (Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland; sampling frequency: 1000 Hz). Participants performed three maximal countermovement jumps with their hands placed on the iliac crests to minimize arm-swing contribution. A 1-minute rest interval was provided between attempts. The highest jump height, expressed in centimeters (cm), was used for analysis.

  Baseline and immediately after the 12-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Drop Jump Height

  Baseline and immediately after the 12-week intervention

• Ground Contact Time

  Baseline and immediately after the 12-week intervention

• Reactive Strength Index

  Baseline and immediately after the 12-week intervention

• 10-Meter Sprint Time

  Baseline and immediately after the 12-week intervention

• Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Peak Force

  Baseline and immediately after the 12-week intervention

Study Arms (2)

French Contrast Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm completed a 12-week French Contrast Training program, with two training sessions per week and at least 48 hours between sessions. Each training sequence consisted of four exercises performed in order: back squat at 85% of 1RM, 30-cm hurdle jumps, squat jumps at 25% of 1RM, and band-assisted jumps. A 20-second recovery period was provided between consecutive exercises. Participants completed 4 sets of 8 repetitions for each exercise, with 3 minutes of rest between sets. Training loads were prescribed based on baseline 1RM values and remained unchanged throughout the 12-week intervention. All sessions were supervised by certified strength and conditioning coaches.

Behavioral: French Contrast Training

Resistance Training Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants assigned to this arm completed a 12-week traditional resistance training program, with two training sessions per week and at least 48 hours between sessions. The program consisted of back squat at 85% of 1RM, Romanian deadlift at 85% of 1RM, leg press at 85% of 1RM, and walking lunge at 30% of 1RM. Participants completed 4 sets of 8 repetitions for each exercise, with 3 minutes of rest between sets. Training loads were prescribed based on baseline 1RM values and remained unchanged throughout the 12-week intervention. All sessions were supervised by certified strength and conditioning coaches.

Behavioral: Resistance Training

Interventions

French Contrast Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed French Contrast Training (FCT) twice per week for 12 weeks, with at least 48 hours between sessions. Each FCT sequence consisted of four exercises performed in the following order: back squat at 85% of 1RM, 30-cm hurdle jumps, squat jumps at 25% of 1RM, and band-assisted jumps. A 20-second recovery period was provided between consecutive exercises. Participants completed 4 sets of 8 repetitions for each exercise, with 3 minutes of rest between sets. Training loads were prescribed according to baseline 1RM values and remained unchanged throughout the 12-week intervention. All training sessions were supervised by certified strength and conditioning coaches.

French Contrast Training Group

Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a 12-week traditional resistance training program, with two sessions per week and at least 48 hours between sessions. The program consisted of back squat at 85% of 1RM, Romanian deadlift at 85% of 1RM, leg press at 85% of 1RM, and walking lunge at 30% of 1RM. Participants completed 4 sets of 8 repetitions for each exercise, with 3 minutes of rest between sets. Training loads were prescribed according to baseline 1RM values and remained unchanged throughout the 12-week intervention. All training sessions were supervised by certified strength and conditioning coaches.

Resistance Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male collegiate basketball players aged 18-24 years.
• At least 7 years of systematic basketball training experience.
• At least 2 years of resistance training experience.
• Competitive classification of Chinese National Second-Class Athlete or higher in basketball.
• Regular participation in basketball-specific technical training three times per week under the same training program.
• Physically healthy and able to participate in resistance and jumping training.
• Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Lower-limb injury within the 3 months prior to enrollment.
• Severe musculoskeletal or joint disorders that could interfere with resistance or jumping exercise.
• Cardiovascular disease or other medical conditions that could prevent safe participation in high-intensity resistance or plyometric exercise.
• Previous experience with structured French Contrast Training.
• Unable to safely complete the prescribed training or performance testing procedures.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ziren Zhao: lead

Study Sites (1)

Stadium

Chongqing, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Resistance Training

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Master's Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 18, 2026
• First Posted: August 20, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 7, 2026
• Study Completion: June 7, 2026
• Last Updated: August 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)