The Use of Recovery Methods in Professional and Recreational Tennis Players

Abstract

Top-level athletes use a large number of recovery methods for achieving the best possible results. Current literature points to the presence of positive effects in using recovery methods in relation to the improvement of sports performance, as well as to results. The aim of this study was to research the types and frequency of recovery methods utilisation between professional and recreational tennis players. The research included a total of 80 professional and recreational male and female tennis players (average age 24.1±12.1 years old), among which 44 (55%) male respondents and 36 (45%) female respondents. A standard anonymous survey questionnaire on the methods and means of recovery was used. The results point to the existence of a significant difference between the respondents from the professional and recreational playing categories in the types and frequency of recovery methods. Likewise, a higher frequency of utilising selected recovery methods was proven in professional tennis players. The largest difference was found for dietary supplementation (3.5±1.5 vs. 1.7±0.9; p<0.001), then for use of Kinesio Tape (2.3±1.1 vs 1.1±0.4; p<0.001), as well as for massages which were more often used by professionals in comparison to recreational tennis players (3.3±1.1 vs. 2.2±1.1; p<0.001). A better understanding of the types and frequency of utilising recovery methods, particularly from the aspect of differences between professional and recreational tennis players, is of great importance, both for tennis players, as well as for their accompanying staff members (i.e. coaches, physical therapists, parents, etc.).