Abstract
A nutritional ergogenic aid (NEA) can help athletes optimize performance, but an evidence-based analysis is required in order to support training outcomes or competition performance in specific events. Racquet sports players are regularly exposed to a high-intensity workload throughout the tournament season. The activity during a match is characterized by variable durations (2–4 h) of repeated high-intensity bouts interspersed with standardized rest periods. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO were searched from their inception until February 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two independent reviewers extracted data, after which they assessed the risk of bias and the quality of trials. Out of 439 articles found, 21 met the predefined criteria: tennis (15 trials), badminton (three trials), paddle (one trial), and squash (two trials). Among all the studied NEAs, acute dosages of caffeine (3–6 mg/kg) 30–60 min before a match have been proven to improve specific skills and accuracy but may not contribute to improve perceived exertion. Currently, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, beetroot juice, citrulline, and glycerol need more studies to strengthen the evidence regarding improved performance in racquet sports.
Highlights
Racquet sports are included in the family of ball sports and among those using an implement
Five racquet sports were analyzed regarding the effectiveness of certain nutritional ergogenic aids: tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis, and paddle
Thirteen RTCs were found in the Medline database, seven were found in the Scopus database where one article was not available despite requesting it from its main author; and none were retrieved from the in database the Medline database for tennis andwere two for badminton), seven wereone found in the
Summary
Racquet sports are included in the family of ball sports and among those using an implement. They are characterized by the use of a manual racquet to propel an implement (a ball, shuttlecock, etc.) between two or four players with the objective of placing it in a position with no return possibilities for the opponent. Racquet sports are acyclic disciplines with very intense workload cycles, which are interrupted by small pauses that allow for an incomplete recovery. Metabolic demands in racquet sports alternate between both anaerobic and aerobic energy sources. Anaerobic energy comes from intramuscular ATP and phosphocreatine (PC), as well as from anaerobic glycolysis, the three of which are used during high intensity, short duration points, changes of direction, and hits.
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