Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Profiles of World-Class Male Padel Players.

Cristóbal Sánchez-Muñoz,Javier Courel-Ibáñez,Jerónimo Cañas,Mikel Zabala,Bernardino Javier Sánchez-Alcaraz,José Joaquín Muros

doi:10.3390/ijerph17020508

Cristóbal Sánchez-Muñoz, Javier Courel-Ibáñez + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020508

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Abstract

The aims of this study were to describe and compare the anthropometric and physical fitness attributes of male padel players according to their competitive level, and to establish a functional anthropometric and physical profile. A total of 60 males participated in the present study. Athletes were grouped according to competition level, forming an elite group (n = 25) and a subelite group (n = 35). Anthropometric variables, hand grip and lumbar isometric strength, flexibility, and lower-body muscular strength were measured. Elite padel players were significantly older and showed significantly lower values for the thigh and calf skinfolds, the sum of six and eight skinfolds, and the sum of lower-limb skinfolds than the subelite group. Elite padel players also had significantly lower values than subelite players for body fat percentage and thigh fat area, whilst showing significantly higher values for lumbar isometric strength. Somatotype of the elite padel players could be defined as endo-mesomorphic. Results suggest that training and talent identification of padel players should focus on their anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness, with these being different between elite and subelite athletes. Normative data could help coaches throughout the talent identification process and in the design of training programs when seeking to optimise sports performance.

Highlights

Padel is a modern racket sport that was invented in the 1970s
Comparisons between groups showed that the elite padel players were significantly older (31 ± 5.7 vs. 25.3 ± 5.9 years), had significantly lower values for the thigh (10.6 ± 3.8 vs. 14.1 ± 5.7 mm) and calf (6.7 ± 2.3 vs. 9.3 ± 4.4 mm) skinfolds, the sum of six and eight skinfolds (84.5 ± 30.7 vs. 102.7 ± 38.5 mm and 95.3 ± 33.3 vs. 116 ± 43.2 mm, respectively), and the sum of lower-limb skinfolds (17.3 ± 5.4 vs. 23.5 ± 9.9 mm) than the subelite group
Elite padel players presented lower values for % body fat evaluated by Sloan [19], Wilmore and Behnke [20], and Whiters et al [21] equations (9.7 ± 3.3 vs. 12.5 ± 4.7%, 14.2 ± 3.6 vs. 16.3 ± 4.2%, and 11.9 ± 4.1 vs. 14.6 ± 5.4%, respectively), and thigh fat area (27.5 ± 9.4 vs. 36.6 ± 15.4 cm2 )

Summary

Introduction

Padel is a modern racket sport that was invented in the 1970s. An important peculiarity is the existence of walls and grilles surrounding the court off of which the ball can bounce. This lengthens rallies so the number of actions and strokes per player is higher in comparison with similar racket sports like badminton, tennis, or squash [2]. Previous studies examining its game dynamics and match activity have defined padel as a high-intensity intermittent activity, which combines high-frequency (0.7–1.5 per second (s)) and low-intensity actions during rallies that are of a moderate duration (9–15 s), interspersed by 1020 s of rest in between, leading to longer breaks of 90 s [3,4,5,6,7]

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