lnfluence of Unspecific Exercise Tests on the Coordinative Capabilities of Young Tennis Players

Kühn C, Fromme A, Mooren FCh, Thorwesten L, Völker K

Abstract

Tennis players often complain about deficits of motor-control and discrimination lasting for several hours after activities unspecific to their discipline. The present study investigated if and how long unspecific sport activities like swimming or press-ups could influence the coordinative capability measured by a sport-specific test. Thirty-three young tennis players at the age of 12 to 16 years performed a high intensity exercise trial (RPE: 17) consisting of either swimming (3 x 200 m) or press-ups (5 maximal series). The tennisspecific coordination was determined using a frame-racket-switch test before and within 3 hours after the exercise test (1, 5, 10, 20, 30,60, 90, 120, 150, 180 min). Coordination was highly significantly (p < 0.001) impaired 1 min after the exercise test compared to pre-exercise conditions. Although coordinative capability recovered gradually within 3 hours, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in coordinative function was still determined. These results were independent of the pre-test exercise procedures.The impairment of sport specific coordinative capabilities after an unspecific exercise test might reflect either a reduced responsiveness due to local fatigue or a reduction in the central neuromuscularcontrol.