Wearable sensor systems are a emerging tools for the evaluation of the sport's activity and can be used to quantify the external workload of the athlete. The main goal of this paper was to evaluate ...the validity and reliability of the "Armbeep inertial measurement unit" (IMU) sensor both in a closed tennis exercise and in open matchplay. Twentyfour junior tennis players performed a baseline drill and played matches, during which they wore a combined accelerometer and gyroscope sensor. Video footage was concomitantly recorded using a digital video camera. The agreement between the measurements was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). A simple linear regression was used to predict the number of shots registered from the video and from the Armbeep IMU sensor's data. The number of total forehand and backhand shots during the drill repetitions showed an excellent test and re-test reproducibility (ICCgreater than or equal to0.90). There was a significant relationship between the Armbeep IMU sensor's number of contacts and the total number of shots (R.sup.2 = 0.938) which indicated the excellent reliability of the tested Armbeep IMU sensor for those parameters. Considering the accuracy of the total tennis shots and the small magnitude of error for wrist speed and acceleration, the Armbeep IMU sensor appears to be an appropriate on-court tool that can be used to monitor the hitting load during tennis practice and matches.
The purpose of this article is to present the use of a previously validated wearable sensor device, Armbeep, in a real-life application, to enhance a tennis player’s training by monitoring and ...analysis of the time, physiological, movement, and tennis-specific workload and recovery indicators, based on fused sensor data acquired by the wearable sensor—a miniature wearable sensor device, designed to be worn on a wrist, that can detect and record movement and biometric information, where the basic signal processing is performed directly on the device, while the more complex signal analysis is performed in the cloud. The inertial measurements and pulse-rate detection of the wearable device were validated previously, showing acceptability for monitoring workload and recovery during tennis practice and matches. This study is one of the first attempts to monitor the daily workload and recovery of tennis players under real conditions. Based on these data, we can instruct the coach and the player to adjust the daily workload. This optimizes the level of an athlete’s training load, increases the effectiveness of training, enables an individual approach, and reduces the possibility of overuse or injuries. This study is a practical example of the use of modern technology in the return of injured athletes to normal training and competition. This information will help tennis coaches and players to objectify their workloads during training and competitions, as this is usually only an intuitive assessment.
Background: Tennis players perform a large number of multidirectional and cutting movements, together with asymmetrical rotational motions resulting from serves and groundstrokes. Numerous shot ...repetitions and multidirectional motions directly influence a tennis player's upper and lower extremity joint range of motion (ROM). Objective: This study evaluated the changes in the range of motion of junior tennis players before and after match play. Methods: Twelve male (age 14.4 ± 1.3 years) and twelve female (age 13.4 ± 2.1 years) junior tennis players participated in the study. Two skilled experts performed 13 tests to measure passive range of motion of the dominant and non-dominant shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and subtalar joints, before and after match play. The t-test and Wilcoxon test were used to determine the differences between the ROM before and after the tennis match, and the differences between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body. Results: Bilateral measurement of the internal rotation of the shoulder joints, forearm pronation, and inversion of the subtalar joints before match play, show significant differences between extremities, similarly as the elevation of the arm in the coronal plane and forearm pronation, after a tennis match, were also found to display statistically significant differences. ROM values were higher for the internal rotation of both shoulders, external rotation of the non-dominant shoulder, elevation of the arms in the coronal plane, flexion in the elbow joints, pronation in the forearms, adduction in the hips, as well as eversion and inversion of the subtalar joints. Conclusions: Male and female junior tennis players increase their joint ROM during match play through motions which are involved in the execution of tennis shots and tennis movement patterns. Tennis matches that last 90 minutes or less do not have a negative impact on the flexibility of young tennis players.
This study investigated tennis players’ speed before, during and after the split-step, deceleration before and acceleration after the split-step in four different stroke groups in three age ...categories. Seven male professional, eleven male and ten female junior tennis players were recorded with video cameras at official tournaments. Using the SAGIT system, we gathered data on 8,545 split-steps. Tennis players performed a split-step in 82.9% of cases. A tennis player’s speed, deceleration and acceleration were measured 0.2 s before and after the split-step. Differences between categories and stroke groups for each of the five variables were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA. The differences between the groups of players were generally much higher in the speed before, during and after the split-step than in the deceleration before and acceleration after the split-step. Most of these differences were observed between the various stroke groups. These results suggest that players use three types of movement while performing a split-step. In the first type, which is typical of serving and returning, the speed before, during and after the split-step is lower (0.55 to 1.2 m/s). The second type of movement is characteristic of baseline strokes where tennis players achieve higher speed than in the first type (0.7 to 1.66 m/s). The third type occurs in strokes where a tennis player is moving or already at the net (0.78 to 1.9 m/s). Movement in tennis is an area that requires constant development in terms of designing and upgrading movement patterns, increasing speed and practice in specific game situations.
The aim of the study was to examine the predictability of the competitive performance of Slovene tennis players by using the most promising morphological measures and motor tests selected by ...automatic computer methods and by experienced tennis coaches by means of machine learning methods. The analysis included altogether 1,002 male and female tennis players who had undergone regular testing by the National Tennis Association and were positioned on the ranking list of the Slovene Tennis Association between the years 1993 and 2008. Selections of the most promising variables by means of the two automatic methods yielded similar results, whereas the selection performed on the basis of estimates made by coaches differed considerably. With regard to the analysis by means of classification methods, an accurate predictability of competitive performance for the age category younger than 16 years was observed, while the results of predictions for the age category older than 16 were poor. Among the regression methods, as opposed to the linear regression, which has yielded satisfactory results, regression trees served no useful purpose in practice. Automatic methods for identifying the most promising variables proved to be more successful than those of the coaches, which was most clearly noticeable with regard to the female tennis players and when linear regression was used.
The aim of this study was to analyse time characteristics in wheelchair tennis. In 2006 data was obtained from 22 singles tennis matches, played on a hard surface. With computer-vision-based software ...application called the SAGIT/TENNIS tracking system which had been developed at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Ljubljana, time characteristics were analysed accordingly. This programme was used to obtain automatically a player’s motion data from the digitized video recordings of a tennis match. Within the time characteristics it has been established that the active part represented 19.68% of the playing time, while the passive one represented 80.32%. The average time of an individual rally lasted 4.16 seconds and in each rally 2.23 strokes were played. 70% of all the rallies was finished in the first time class. Each half of the tennis court was divided into 14 regions in order to measure the average time spent in each region. It was discovered that most of the active time was spent in regions 1 and 4, representing the base position in wheelchair tennis. There were no statistically significant differences between the winners and losers in the percentage of time spent in a particular region.
The study examined the relationship between selected motor tests and competitive successfulness in tennis for different age categories. The sample was comprised of 615 tennis players of both genders ...in the age categories of under-14 and under-18 years. Several motor abilities were investigated: the neuromuscular power of the arms, the elastic power of the legs, the dynamic muscular strength endurance of the trunk, acceleration, agility, hand-eye coordination, dynamic balance and running endurance. Competitive successfulness of players of both genders was defined by the position on the national ranking list and represented a criterion variable. The results of regression analysis showed in all categories a moderate, statistically significant correlation between the system of predictor variables and the criterion variable. A group of eight motor variables described 34% of the criterion variable variance in the category of 12- to 14-year old girls and 54% in the same age category of boys, whereas for the 15- to 18- year-old players the predictor variables described 52% of the criterion variable variance in girls and 34% in boys. The running endurance test in girls and the hand-eye coordination test in boys partially described competitive successfulness in the category of 12- to 14-year-olds. In the category of 15- to 18-year-olds, the criterion variance was partially described by the dynamic muscular strength endurance of the trunk in girls and hand-eye coordination and acceleration in boys. The results of the study underline the importance of several motor abilities for competitive successfulness in particular age categories of young tennis players.
The aim of this study was to find a trend of changes for selected anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of young male and female tennis players of three different age groups. Trends were ...observed in the periods between 1992, 2000 and 2008. In addition, a comparison of results of tennis players and school pupils was included. The sample of subjects were selections of young tennis players and of primary and secondary schools pupils (boys and girls) divided into three age groups (12- to 13-year-olds, 14- to 15-year-olds, and 16- to 17-year-olds). Fitness tests items (backwards obstacle course, forward bend on the bench, 20-second hand-tapping, 60-second sit-ups) and three anthropometric measurements (body height, body weight, BMI) were included in this study. The analysis of trends for different periods of measurement in male and female tennis players revealed an increase in some test items and a decrease in others. In the majority of observed fitness test items, young tennis players performed better than their school peers, indicating the positive effects of training and an appropriate selection process of tennis players. Male and female tennis players were taller than the school pupils, and body height values in both groups increased from 1992 to 2008. The body weight and BMI values for male and female tennis players, and male and female pupils in all three age groups have been constantly increasing.
Introduction The aim of this systematic review is to provide an evidence-based synthesis of the literature on the topic of technical and tactical competencies of tennis players and to answer the ...following research questions: (1) What is the state of the art of research on technical and tactical competencies (i.e., skills and knowledge) and tennis; (2) What are the most important topics related to technical and tactical competencies in tennis players. Methods Electronic searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMED and SPORTDiscus (August to September 2023). This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. To reduce risk, all published literature was searched and primary studies were included. The search terms included skills or competencies, match or play, player and tennis and excluded studies on non-competitive tennis players—notation analysis, AI method, systematic review and validation of tools. Results and discussion Of the 390 publications found in these searches, 13 articles were considered relevant and included in this study. They were divided into three categories: (1) technical-tactical skills, (2) match situations and (3) match performance. There was clear evidence that there is a test instrument for analyzing tactical-technical skills that has sufficient reliability and validity and is of practical value to tennis coaches. The development of tactical-technical skills is influenced by method (variability between/within skills), conditions (court size, ball type) and areas of development (situational awareness, anticipation, decision making). There are differences in match and stroke performance between different quality groups (professionals, juniors), which can also be influenced by mental strength. For a comprehensive study of tennis players’ abilities, the use of modern technologies is possible and necessary in the future. Future research should focus on the creation of competency models for the playing level of tennis players, which could include at least three key elements: (1) key competencies, (2) description of standards, (3) evidence.
This study aimed to explore the relationship between functional movement screen (FMS) scores and injury severity in young tennis players. Additionally, we investigated the effect of the ...characteristics of the training programme on injury severity. During the annual testing and screening, we assessed 181 tennis players aged between 12 and 18. The Functional Movement Screen was used to measure multiple movement factors, to detect deficits in gross movement quality, to identify movement asymmetries, and to predict general musculoskeletal injury risk. The cohorts’ mean composite FMS score was 16.02 ± 1.98. Players scored higher in shoulder mobility and active straight leg raise, while the lower scores were obtained in the deep squat and rotary stability. We found that the FMS composite scores were higher for players who had not been injured and lower for players who had not trained or competed for >4 weeks due to injury. There was a significant association between the FMS composite score and injury severity. Namely, the group of players who had been injured for >4 weeks, reached the lower average FMS score (14.95). It was found that more hours of tennis practice per week increased, significantly, the injury severity, while more hours of fitness and conditioning practise decreased significantly the injury risk for the 6-months following the FMS testing.
El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la relación entre las puntuaciones de las Pruebas de Movimiento Funcional (FMS) y la severidad de las lesiones en jóvenes jugadores de tenis. Además, se investigó el efecto de las características del programa de entrenamiento sobre la severidad de la lesión. Durante las pruebas y exámenes anuales evaluamos a 181 jugadores de tenis de entre 12 y 18 años de edad. La FMS se utilizó para medir múltiples factores de movimiento, para detectar deficiencias en la calidad del movimiento amplio, para identificar asimetrías de movimiento y para predecir el riesgo general de sufrir lesiones músculo esqueléticas. La puntuación promedio del FMS compuesto del grupo fue de 16,02 ± 1,98. Los jugadores obtuvieron una puntuación más alta en la movilidad de los hombros y en el levantamiento activo de la pierna estirada, mientras que las puntuaciones más bajas se dieron en la sentadilla profunda y la estabilidad rotatoria. Se ha constatado que los jugadores que no se habían lesionado obtuvieron puntuaciones compuestas de la FMS mayores, mientras que las más bajas las obtuvieron los jugadores que no habían entrenado o competido durante más de 4 semanas debido a una lesión. Se encontró una asociación significativa entre la puntuación compuesta de la FMS y la duración de la lesión. Concretamente el grupo de jugadores que había estado lesionados durante más de 4 semanas alcanzaron la puntuación media de FMS menor (14,95). Los jugadores que participaron en más entrenamientos y sesiones de preparación física se ausentaron con menos frecuencia de los entrenamientos y torneos.
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