Supervisors info:
Τσολάκης Χαρίλαος, Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Κουλουβάρης Παναγιώτης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παπαγιάννης Γεώργιος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φυσικοθεραπείας, Πανεπιστήμιο Πελοποννήσου
Summary:
The present study addressed the issue of the profile of adolescent tennis
athletes (13-18 years old) in terms of their anthropometric, physiological and
functional characteristics. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the
anthropometric and myodynamic characteristics of tennis athletes are associated
with improved performance of tennis athletes.
Twenty-two female and male tennis athletes from clubs within Attica, aged
13-18 years old, participated in the study. The subjects' somatometric characteristics
(body mass, body stature and arm span length), body mass index, body type,
isokinetic knee strength, isometric trunk strength were evaluated, Squat Jump, Free
Counter Movement, Drop Jump, Drop Jump Right, Drop Jump Left and Stiffness
jumps. Finally, the athletes were given tests to assess their performance of basic
motor skills (Forehand Drive and the Backhand Drive).
In general, regarding the results, it was found that there was a statistically
positive correlation between the height of the tennis athletes and the drop jump, the
right foot drop jump, the left foot drop jump, the free forward jump and the muscle
stiffness. In addition, a statistically significant negative correlation was found
between endomorphism and the free preload jump and the reactive force index of
muscle stiffness. Still, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed
between intermorphism and the reactive force index of muscle stiffness. Also, a
statistically significant negative correlation was observed between exomorphism and
contact time in muscle hardness. Finally, it was found that contact time in muscle
hardness was positively correlated with body mass index and endomorphism, while
it was negatively correlated with exomorphism.
In conclusion, the results of this study focus on the importance of
anthropometric characteristics, stroke speed, lower limb strength and isokinetic
strength developed by athletes. Furthermore, according to the findings of this
research, coaches will be able to identify a potentially talented anti-shot putter with
developed anthropometric characteristics by evaluating their power and isokinetic
strength.
Keywords:
Tennis, Anthropometric characteristics, Power, Performance
