Movement-production strategy in tennis: a case study. Gillet Eric,Leroy David,Thouvarecq Régis,Mégrot Fabrice,Stein Jean-François Journal of strength and conditioning research The present case study fell within the framework of the "absolute approach of expertise" because it assesses a "truly exceptional individual" (Chi, MTH, Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance, London, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp. 121-130). This technique analysis examined the movement-production strategy used by a professional tennis player performing serve-return strokes. This research enabled us to establish the relation between tennis serve-return technique and successful performance. An optoelectronic system was used to capture and analyze the expert player's stroke production in a live situation to determine the temporal trajectory of the serve-return initiation movement. Some differences between the serve-return shots were observed concerning the occurrence time of the lateral racquet displacement, the amplitude of the racquet movement, and the average latency time. No difference was observed for the gravity center (GC) movements. Backhand, forehand, and reprogramming strokes were executed with a general constancy of occurrence and average times of the GC and racquet movements. This expert player used a predictive movement-production strategy specified by a high level of reproducibility of the movement with nevertheless adaptive skills during reprogramming strokes. This adaptation supported either the development of highly consistent motor programs or the use of a more flexible strategy based on the perception-action coupling. 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181dc4622

Electromyographic analysis of elbow function in tennis players. Morris M,Jobe F W,Perry J,Pink M,Healy B S The American journal of sports medicine Muscle activity about the elbow during tennis strokes in nine professional and collegiate level players was studied using indwelling EMG and high speed photography. Eight muscles were evaluated for the serve, forehand, and backhand strokes. The serve was divided into six stages and the ground strokes into four stages. EMG tracings were subjected to analog-to-digital conversion and a relative measure of quantity was obtained. Analysis of variance and Turkey tests were then done to assess statistical significance (P less than 0.05). The ground strokes showed low activity in all muscles tested during the preparation phase. During the acceleration phase, both the backhand and forehand showed a generalized increase in all muscle activity. Both strokes showed marked activity of the wrist extensors and, in addition, the forehand showed high activity in the brachialis and biceps. In the follow-through phase, there was a generalized decrease in muscle activity. The serve showed low activity in all muscles tested during the wind-up phase. The wrist extensors increased their activity in the cooking phase, with marked activity in late cooking. The pronator teres and the triceps showed increased activity in the acceleration phase. Follow-through phase showed low muscle activity except for the biceps, which increased in late follow-through. In conclusion, the muscles of the elbow help stabilize the elbow as a unit during the ground strokes in these high level players. Power in the serve comes from increased activity in the triceps and pronator teres. The predominant activity of the wrist extensors in all strokes may be one explanation for predisposition to injury. 10.1177/036354658901700215

Influence of Successive Wheelchair Tennis Matches on Handgrip Strength in High-Level Male Players. International journal of environmental research and public health The purpose of this study was to examine the effects on upper strength in high-level male players playing four successive wheelchair tennis (WT) matches. Eight international WT players took part in a competition, playing one match per day over four consecutive tournament days. Before and after the match, the maximal isometric handgrip strength was measured on the dominant and non-dominant hand. Additionally, each player was equipped with one radiofrequency and IMU device on their wheelchair to control his activity profile (distance). The results showed significant differences between successive matches, with decreasing dominant handgrip strength ( = 0.02, η = 0.043), and there was a significant interaction between successive matches and the accumulated distance ( = 0.013, η = 0.049). The pre- and post-match strength values of the dominant hand decreased throughout the matches over a number of days, and post hoc analysis showed differences between the first and fourth matches only in pre-match strength (49.06 ± 6.96 vs. 45.94 ± 7.1; = 0.045; ES: 1.04) but not in the non-dominant hand. Successive matches caused a decrease in the strength values of the WT players, mainly in the dominant hand. These results should be taken into account in the recovery and prevention of injuries in competitions with successive matches. 10.3390/ijerph20064842

Orthobiologics in Elbow Injuries. Stafford Cleo D,Colberg Ricardo E,Garrett Hunter Clinics in sports medicine Orthobiologics are exciting tools providing promising results for difficult orthopedic conditions. In the elbow there is high-level evidence for their use in lateral epicondylopathy and encouraging evidence for other elbow pathologies. This article provides an in-depth review of the current literature for the use of orthobiologics in elbow injuries. 10.1016/j.csm.2020.02.008

Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injury in the tennis player. Abrams Geoffrey D,Renstrom Per A,Safran Marc R British journal of sports medicine Tennis is a popular sport with tens of millions of players participating worldwide. This popularity was one factor leading to the reappearance of tennis as a medal sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The volume of play, combined with the physical demands of the sports, can lead to injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Overall, injury incidence and prevalence in tennis has been reported in a number of investigations. The sport creates specific demands on the musculoskeletal system, with acute injuries, such as ankle sprains, being more frequent in the lower extremity while chronic overuse injuries, such as lateral epicondylitis, are more common in the upper extremity in the recreational player and shoulder pain more common in the high-level player. This review discusses the epidemiology of injuries frequently experienced in tennis players and examines some of these injuries' correlation with the development of osteoarthritis. In addition, player-specific factors, such as age, sex, volume of play, skill level, racquet properties and grip positions as well as the effect of playing surface on the incidence and prevalence of injury is reported. Finally, recommendations on standardisation of future epidemiological studies on tennis injuries are made in order to be able to more easily compare results of future investigations. 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091164