Match activity and physiological load in wheelchair tennis players: a pilot study.

STUDY DESIGN: There is a lack of information about the physiological and psychological parameters in competition that shows a comprehensive profile of the demands of the game situation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the activity patterns and physiological-perceptual responses (heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentrations (LA) and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), respectively, during singles wheelchair tennis (WT) matches. METHODS: A total of four WT players played three matches each. HR, LA and RPE were measured during each match. An activity pattern analysis was performed during all matches. Furthermore, LA and RPE were compared between service and return games. RESULTS: The results show a mean (s.d.) total match time of 69.04 (2.3) minutes, an effective playing time of 17.65% (0.03%), a work:rest (W:R) time ratio of 1:4.6 (0.48) and a rally length of 7.04 (4.44) seconds. Most of the points end in three or fewer shots. The mean (s.d.) physiological load during the matches were as follows: HR 124.25 (24.7) beats per minute, %HRmax 66.31% (4.5%), LA 1.41 (0.43) mmol l(-)(1) and RPE 12.45 (1.91). No significant differences were found in LA and RPE between service and return games (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this descriptive study, match activity and physiological load in WT are described. Match activities are similar to conventional tennis, although the physiological load is lower. Service and return situations show similar physiological and perceptual responses. These results might be used to develop specific interval training protocols for a male WT player.

Psychophysiological stress responses during training and competition in young female competitive tennis players.

This study sought to compare the psychophysiological stress responses during an actual competitive game and a training session in a group of high-level young female tennis players. 12 players were monitored during one match and a training day (i.e., simulated match play). Measurements included salivary cortisol (SC), the revised Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory, heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Match day elicited higher SC levels for losers at all points in time when compared to winners. All players showed significantly lower SC levels during training when compared to the match at all points in time except during the evening for winners. Winners of match and training situations had significantly higher self-confidence and lower cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety scores than losers. Heart rate and RPE were significantly higher for losers only during the match (158.9±8.3 vs. 168±6.7 bpm; 12.9±1.2 vs. 15±0.8, for losers and winners, respectively). There were moderate to strong correlations between SC, self-confidence and anxiety scores, and match workload (i.e., HR and RPE) only during the match day. These results indicate that the interplay between psychophysiological responses, match workload and outcome was evident only under real competitive situations.

Tratamiento fisioterápico de la epicondilitis en un tenista joven / Tennis elbow physiotherapy treatment to a young tennis player

Este estudio de caso analiza el tratamiento fisioterápico aplicado a un joven tenista con epicondilitis. En él se plantea un sistema de trabajo del equipo multidisciplinar, basado en la colaboración entre el fisioterapeuta y el entrenador deportivo, que permita un análisis riguroso y objetivo de los diferentes aspectos que se consideran como determinantes en la aparición de la lesión, como son la valoración del grado de afectación, las causas que la provocaron y los métodos de tratamiento fisioterápico empleados para su recuperación. A través de la colaboración entre ambos profesionales se analizan los motivos que produjeron esta lesión, mediante un detallado análisis del momento de desarrollo físico en el que se encontraba el jugador y de la influencia en el mismo de las cargas de entrenamiento, de la técnica de golpeo y del material -raqueta- que empleaba el tenista hasta el momento de aparición de las dolencias, todo ello con la finalidad de demostrar que el control preciso de estas variables en jugadores en pleno proceso de crecimiento es fundamental, ya que su musculatura no está desarrollada como la de un jugador profesional. Del mismo modo, proponemos un programa fisioterápico de tratamiento en la pista de tenis como medio preventivo para futuras lesiones

This case-study analyzed the physical therapy applied to a young tennis player with tennis elbow. It was placed in an interdisciplinary health team system for recovery based on the collaboration of physical therapist and trainer, permitting a rigorous and objective analysis of the different aspects considered as determinants for the injury, as well as the seriousness, the causes that provoked the injury and the methods of physiotherapy used for the patient’s recuperation. Besides the collaboration of both professionals it was analyzed the causes that produced the injury by a detailed analysis of the amount of physical development of the player and the influence of training charge, the technique used to hit the ball and the material -racket- used by tennis player at the moment to appear the injury, all of it with the purpose to prove that a control of these variables is fundamental for new tennis players as they grow as their muscle structure is not fully developed as with professional players. At the same time, prepare a physical treatment program on the tennis court as a preventive measure for futures injuries during the Accumulation period where the probability of and injury is dramatically increased by increment training volume