Abstract
This study compared the effects of playing and nonplaying high intensity intermittent training (HIIT) on physiological demands and tennis stroke performance in young tennis players. Eleven competitive male players (13.4 ± 1.3 years) completed both a playing and nonplaying HIIT session of equal distance, in random order. During each HIIT session, heart rate (HR), blood lactate, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Before and after each HIIT session, the velocity and accuracy of the serve, and forehand and backhand strokes were evaluated. The results demonstrated that both HIIT sessions achieved an average HR greater than 90% HRmax. The physiological demands (average HR) were greater during the playing session compared to the nonplaying session, despite similar lactate concentrations and a lower RPE. The results also indicate a reduction in shot velocity after both HIIT sessions; however, the playing HIIT session had a more deleterious effect on stroke accuracy. These findings suggest that 1) both HIIT sessions may be sufficient to develop maximal aerobic power, 2) playing HIIT sessions provide a greater physiological demand with a lower RPE, and 3) playing HIIT has a greater deleterious effect on stroke performance, and in particular on the accuracy component of the ground stroke performance, and should be incorporated appropriately into a periodization program in young male tennis players.
Highlights
Tennis involves intermittent, high-intensity actions interspersed by periods of active and passive recovery [1]
For high intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions, there was a significant large effect between HIIT sessions (p = 0.001; 2 = 0.66, large effect) and between sets (p 0.001; 2 = 0.80, large effect) for mean heart rate (HR); demonstrating a higher mean HR for the playing session when compared to the nonplaying session, and for the second 6-min set compared to the first set (Fig. 2)
There was a significant large effect of HIIT sessions and between sets for 80–85% (p = 0.006, η2 = 0.69, large effect, and p = 0.03, η2 = 0.48, large effect, respectively), for 85–90% (p = 0.03, η2 = 0.47, large effect, and p = 0.05, η2 = 0.41, large effect, respectively), and for 90–95% (p = 0.009, η2 = 0.63, large effect, and p = 0.04, η2 = 0.44, large effect respectively), while no significant effect was found for 95–100%
Summary
High-intensity actions interspersed by periods of active and passive recovery [1]. The inclusion of high intensity interval training (HIIT) based on game-specific on-court drills is thought to be ideal to enhance aerobic fitness while maintaining the technical skills, efficiently using training time [6,7]. This type of training is of interest for young tennis players, since the time devoted to conditioning is often limited [8], due to the extensive amount of time on the court practicing technical and tactical drills
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