scholarly journals Physical Fitness Profiling of National Category Table Tennis Players: Implication for Health and Performance

Author(s):  
Jon Mikel Picabea ◽  
Jesús Cámara ◽  
Javier Yanci

The aims of this study were to: (1) analyze table tennis players’ physical profiles considering and comparing players age categories (i.e., under U12, U14, U16, U20, Senior and Older); and (2) to quantify the correlations among the variables measured by each test. Seventy-one table tennis players (61 men and 10 women, 19.7 ± 11.23 years, 1.65 ± 0.13 m, 59.71 ± 17.72 kg and 21.60 ± 4.22 kg/m2) divided into six age groups, performed a sprint test, forearm isometric strength test, countermovement vertical test, countermovement horizontal test, change of direction ability (CODA) test and flexibility test. U14 players performed better than U12 in all tests (ES = −0.70 to 1.98, moderate to large) except in Sit and Reach (SAR) test (ES = 0.19, trivial). The U16 group also obtained better results than U14 in all tests (ES = 0.77 to −2.31, moderate to large) except for the SAR test (ES = 0.19, trivial). The U20 group performed better than U16 in all the tests (ES = 0.73 to −1.53, moderate to large) except for the 5 m sprint test (ES = −0.02, trivial), 10 m sprint test (ES = −0.51, moderate) and SAR (ES = 0.11, trivial). Differences between Senior and U20 were only found in the arm swing counter movement jump (CMJAS) (ES = −0.82, large) and modified agility test (MAT) (ES = 1.19, large), with the U20 group being better in both variables. The senior group performed better in the MAT test than the older group (ES = 0.94, large). The relation found between forearm isometric strength, vertical jump, horizontal jump, sprint and CODA ability (r = −0.53; ±0.14, 0/0/100, most likely to r = 0.83; ±0.06, 100/0/0, most likely) indicates that these capacities are related in table tennis players. Nevertheless, the lack of association between the sit and reach test with the other capacities may indicate that flexibility is an independent capacity.

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-239
Author(s):  
Asier Los Arcos ◽  
José F. Aramendi ◽  
Jose I. Emparanza ◽  
Carlo Castagna ◽  
Javier Yanci ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aims of the study were: a) to analyze the reproducibility of the Modified Agility Test (MAT) according to two types of displacement (i.e. constrained [MATtop] vs. free [MATfree]), b) to examine the explanatory capacity of anthropometric characteristics and neuromuscular performance on the ability to change the direction (CODA), c) to look into the practical consequences of the types of displacement from the perspective of an elite soccer academy. 118 male soccer players (age: 16 (13-25) years old) from the same elite Spanish soccer academy (U13 to senior) were tested twice on two versions of the MAT (MATtop and MATfree), with 48 hours between testing sessions. Moreover, they were tested on linear-sprint performance, over 5 m (S5m) and 15 m (S15m), and the vertical jump (VJ) (countermovement jump with [ACMJ] and without an arm swing [CMJ]). The main findings were: a) the type of displacement did not affect the reliability of the CODA test; b) weight, S15m, ACMJ and CMJ variables explained close to 60% of CODA performance; c) MATtop (i.e. constrained displacement) and MATfree (i.e. free-displacement) CODA tests could show different profiles of development along the age groups; and d) the impact of the task’s constraints was relatively higher in U16 and U17 groups. CODA seems to have a variable meaning depending on the characteristics of the test and the age of the participants.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 916-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Thomas ◽  
Paul Comfort ◽  
Paul A. Jones ◽  
Thomas Dos’Santos

Purpose:To investigate the relationships between maximal isometric strength, vertical jump (VJ), sprint speed, and change-of-direction speed (CoDS) in academy netball players and determine whether players who have high performance in isometric strength testing would demonstrate superior performance in VJ, sprint speed, and CoDS measures.Method:Twenty-six young female netball players (age 16.1 ± 1.2 y, height 173.9 ± 5.7 cm, body mass 66.0 ± 7.2 kg) from a regional netball academy performed isometric midthigh pull (IMTP), squat jumps (SJs), countermovement jumps (CMJs), 10-m sprints, and CoDS (505).Results:IMTP measures displayed moderate to strong correlations with sprint and CoDS performance (r = –.41 to –.66). The VJs, which included SJs and CMJs, demonstrated strong correlations with 10-m sprint times (r = –.60 to –.65; P < .01) and CoDS (r = –.60 to –.71; P = .01). Stronger players displayed significantly faster sprint (ES = 1.1–1.2) and CoDS times (ES = 1.2–1.7) and greater VJ height (ES = 0.9–1.0) than weaker players.Conclusion:The results of this study illustrate the importance of developing high levels of lower-body strength to enhance VJ, sprint, and CoDS performance in youth netball players, with stronger athletes demonstrating superior VJ, sprint, and CoDS performances.


GYMNASIUM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol XXI (2 (Supplement)) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Radenko Arsenijevic ◽  
Igor Ilic ◽  
Veroljub Stankovic

The aims of this study were (a) to assess the ability of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to predict performance loss (i.e. percent of drop in height relative to maximal height) of vertical jump session until voluntary failure, and (b) to determine the ability of RPE to describe the physiological demand of this session via heart rate monitor. Ten healthy men performed vertical jumps (counter-movement jump) until voluntary failure. Before session start maximal jump height for every subject was determined. Heart rate and RPE, separately for legs (RPE legs) and for breath (RPE breath), were recorded every ten jumps throughout the sessions. Results have shoved that RPE legs and performance loss have about 99% of same variance ( =0,9899; p<0,000), and RPE breath explains about 98% heart rate variance ( =0,9789; p<0,000) in vertical jump session until voluntary failure.


Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1664
Author(s):  
Nejc Šarabon ◽  
Darjan Smajla ◽  
Nicola A. Maffiuletti ◽  
Chris Bishop

Despite growing research in the field of inter-limb asymmetries (ILAs), little is known about the variation of ILAs in different populations of athletes. The purpose of this study was to compare ILAs among young basketball, soccer and tennis players. ILAs were assessed in three different types of tests (strength, jumping and change of direction (CoD) speed), each including different tasks: (1) bilateral and unilateral counter movement jump, (2) isometric strength of knee extensors (KE) and knee flexors (KF), and (3) 90° and 180° CoD. Generally, the absolute metrics showed strong reliability and revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the three groups in KE maximal torque, KE and KF rate of force development and in both CoD tests. For jumping ILAs, power and force impulse metrics exhibited significant between-limb differences between groups, compared to jump height. For strength and CoD speed ILAs, only KF maximal torque and 180° CoD exhibited significant differences between groups. Greater KF strength ILAs in soccer players and counter-movement jump ILAs in tennis players are most probably the result of sport-specific movement patterns and training routines. Sport practitioners should be aware of the differences in ILAs among sports and address training programs accordingly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-116
Author(s):  
Patricia Fischerova ◽  
Roksana Krosta ◽  
Artur Gołaś ◽  
Artur Terbalyan ◽  
Magdalena Nitychoruk ◽  
...  

Introduction: The aim of the study was to examine relationships between power of the lower limb and agility, speed, and change of direction (COD) deficit in professional female soccer players. Material and methods: Thirty-three elite Polish Extraliga league soccer players (aged 22 ±5 years; body height 166 ± 4 cm; body weight 58 ± 8 kg) performed the following fitness tests: lower limb muscle power (Leg Press, Half Squat, Counter Movement Jump), straight linear speed (SLS 20 m), and COD speed ( Zig-Zag test, COD deficit). Using the median value as a reference, the players were subdivided into two groups (n=17; n=16) according to their LP, HS 60% 1RM, CMJ (High values below median = stronger group and Low = weaker group ). Results: The COD deficit was calculated as the difference between the 20m speed and the Zig-Zag test. The stronger group was better than the weaker group in SLS 20m (p<0.05; ES=1.23; 0.83; 0.93), but in the Zig-Zag agility test, the difference in the results was not statistically significant (p>0.05; ES=0.48; 0.34; 0.34) and this affected the COD deficit, which was higher (p<0.05; ES=0.9; 0.73; 0.72). The most important finding was that the stronger group had a higher COD deficit and its improvement (reduction) occurs only if the results of the agility test are improved (through agility training) [Ydeficit All groups=0.10+0.87*20m - 0.83* Zig-Zag]. Increasing power (HS, LP) lead to the improvement in SLS p<0.05, not to COD abilities. Conclusion: This can be useful for coaches during agility training and to improve COD deficit in soccer players and women in general.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 750-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar Gallo-Salazar ◽  
Juan Del Coso ◽  
David Barbado ◽  
Alejandro Lopez-Valenciano ◽  
Francisco Javier Santos-Rosa ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of playing 2 tennis matches on the same day on physical performance in young tennis players. Twelve well-trained young tennis players took part in a simulated tennis competition consisting of 2 tennis matches on the same day (morning and afternoon sessions). Before and the day after the competition, physical performance was measured using a battery of countermovement jumps; a 10 m sprint; the 5–0–5 agility test; hip, grip and shoulder maximal isometric strength; shoulder range of motion; and a serve velocity test. Postcompetition results showed reduced performance in 10 m (–3.3%, effect size (ES) = small), dominant and nondominant 5–0–5 agility test (–4.6%, ES = moderate; –4.2%, ES = moderate, respectively), bilateral (–5.2%, ES = small), and unilateral countermovement jumps (dominant leg: –7.2%, ES = small; non-dominant leg: –9.1%, ES = small). Both dominant and nondominant shoulder external rotation range of motion increased (12.2%, ES = moderate; 5.6%, ES = small), whereas internal rotation decreased (–4.2%, ES = small; –3.3%, ES = small) in the postcompetition tests, together with the dominant shoulder external rotation (–10.7%, ES = moderate) and internal rotation (–9.3%, ES = small) strength. Physical impairments occurred in neuromuscular performance variables involving lower (e.g., jumping, sprinting, and change of direction) and upper (e.g., isometric strength and range of motion) limbs the day after playing a competition with 2 consecutive matches on the same day. These alterations in neuromuscular and sport-specific performance need to be taken into consideration when planning tournament schedules for young tennis players, as well as preparing match and recovery strategies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean G. Higham ◽  
David B. Pyne ◽  
Judith M. Anson ◽  
Anthony Eddy

Although the characteristics of 15-a-side rugby union players have been well defined, there is little information on rugby sevens players.Purpose:The authors profiled the anthropometric, physiological, and performance qualities of elite-level rugby sevens players and quantified relationships between these characteristics.Methods:Eighteen male international rugby sevens players undertook anthropometric (body mass, height, sum of 7 skinfolds, lean-mass index), acceleration and speed (40-m sprint), muscle-power (vertical jump), repeatedsprint- ability (6 × 30-m sprint), and endurance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test and treadmill VO2max) testing. Associations between measurements were assessed by correlation analysis.Results:Rugby sevens players had anthropometric characteristics (body mass 89.7 ± 7.6 kg, height 1.83 ± 0.06 m, sum of 7 skinfolds 52.2 ± 11.5 mm; mean ± SD) similar to those of backs in international 15-player rugby union. Acceleration and speed (40-m sprint 5.11 ± 0.15 s), muscle-power (vertical jump 66 ± 7 cm), and endurance (VO2max 53.8 ± 3.4 mL · kg−1 · min−1 ) qualities were similar to, or better than, those of professional 15-a-side players. Coefficients of variation ranged from 2.5% to 22%. Relative VO2max was largely correlated with Yo-Yo distance (r = .60, .21−.82; 90% confidence interval) and moderately correlated with 40-m sprint time (r = −.46, −.75 to −.02) and repeated-sprint ability (r = −.38, −.72 to .09).Conclusions:International rugby sevens players require highly developed speed, power, and endurance to tolerate the demands of competition. The small between-athletes variability of characteristics in rugby sevens players highlights the need for relatively uniform physical and performance standards in contrast with 15-a-side players.


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