Abstract
BackgroundGroin injuries are some of the most common injuries tennis players suffer. Several factors (e.g., post-match decrease in hip adductor (ADD) strength) have been proposed as possible mechanisms for increasing the incidence of this type of injury. However, the risk factors of developing groin injuries after a tennis match have not yet been delineated.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of tennis match-play on isometric ADD and abductor (ABD) strength and passive hip range of motion (ROM).MethodsTwenty-six male tennis players (20.30 ± 4.98 years) took part in this study. Participants completed an evaluation of strength and flexibility hip measurements before and after a simulated tennis match. Dominant and non-dominant passive hip ROM, ADD and ABD isometric strength, and the ADD/ABD strength ratio were measured before and immediately post-match. A global positioning system (GPS) and a session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to assess the locomotive demands and internal match load.ResultsIsometric dominant ADD strength (17.8%, p ≤ 0.01) and ADD/ABD strength ratio (11.6%, p = 0.04) were lower post-match compared to the pre-match values. No between-limbs differences were observed for isometric ADD strength, ABD strength, and passive hip ROM tests. RPE showed an expected increase between pre- vs. post-match (pre- vs. post-warming-up, 3.42 ± 2.08 vs. 5.62 ± 2.29, p < 0.01). In addition, a significant relationship between ADD strength and the volume of tennis practice per week was found, stablishing that tennis players with lower volume of training per week suffered a reduction in ADD strength in their dominant limb after match-play (r = 0.420, p = 0.04).ConclusionThe assessment of ADD strength and the ADD/ABD strength ratio in the dominant limb may be considered a post-match tool that can be used to identify players who require rest and additional recovery strategies before competing again.
Highlights
Tennis is an intermittent sport characterized by high-intensity efforts interspersed with periods of low-intensity activity over a variable period (i.e., 1–5 h) (López-Samanes et al, 2017)
No reductions in hip strength have been found in young tennis players after two matches (Gallo-Salazar et al, 2017); and to our knowledge, no previous studies have focused on elite tennis players
Environmental conditions, match duration, and training load The mean duration of the tennis matches was 80.3 ± 21.3 min, and a total of 16.50 ± 3.33 games were played during each match
Summary
Tennis is an intermittent sport characterized by high-intensity efforts interspersed with periods of low-intensity activity (e.g., active recovery between points and rest between changeover breaks) over a variable period (i.e., 1–5 h) (López-Samanes et al, 2017). Neuromuscular fatigue during competition has been associated with an increased injury risk to the upper limbs due to several factors, including scapular upward rotation deficits (Rich et al, 2016) or reductions in strength values in the shoulders after tennis matches (Moreno-Pérez et al, 2019). Several factors (e.g., post-match decrease in hip adductor (ADD) strength) have been proposed as possible mechanisms for increasing the incidence of this type of injury. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of tennis match-play on isometric ADD and abductor (ABD) strength and passive hip range of motion (ROM). Dominant and non-dominant passive hip ROM, ADD and ABD isometric strength, and the ADD/ABD strength ratio were measured before and immediately post-match. A significant relationship between ADD strength and the volume of tennis practice per week was found, stablishing that tennis players with lower volume
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