Differences in expertise level for anticipatory skill between badminton ‘in game’ strokes and serves

Over the past decades, researchers in racquet sports have been testing the role of visual anticipation and expert attunement to essential kinematic information for responding to ‘in game’ strokes as well as serves. However, anticipatory behaviour to both strokes has not been compared directly, in spite of the different characteristics of these strokes in the context of badminton. Therefore, this study explored the differences in anticipatory behaviour among elite ( n = 26), competitive ( n = 15) and novices ( n = 17) between in game strokes and serves in badminton by use of lab based video temporal occlusion tests. In two separate blocks, last strokes (LS) and serves (S) were presented with different occlusion points (− 200 and − 100 ms before shuttle–racquet contact, at shuttle–racquet contact, and + 100 after shuttle–racquet contact) in a randomised order. The main results from the analysis of variance were that (a) elites generally showed faster and more accurate responses, and (b) responses were generally faster in LS conditions than in serves. These results add to the current body of knowledge on anticipatory behaviour in racquet sports, and the practical implications for coaching and training are discussed.

An Overview on Cognitive Function Enhancement through Physical Exercises

This review is extensively focused on the enhancement of cognitive functions while performing physical exercises categorized into cardiovascular exercises, resistance training, martial arts, racquet sports, dancing and mind-body exercises. Imaging modalities, viz. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG), have been included in this review. This review indicates that differences are present in cognitive functioning while changing the type of physical activity performed. This study concludes that employing fNIRS helps overcome certain limitations of fMRI. Further, the effects of physical activity on a diverse variety of the population, from active children to the old people, are discussed.

Flow Field around the Badminton Shuttlecock during Flipping Motion

Badminton is one of the most popular sports in the world. The shuttlecock is used in badminton game has the unique shape. The shuttlecock is truncated cone-shaped and consists of a cork, gaps and a skirt portion. The shuttlecock has aerodynamic properties which differ from the ball used in other racquet sports. As an example of unique aerodynamic property, the shuttlecock shows high deceleration. It is known that the initial velocity immediately after smashing may reach up to 137m/s (493 km/h) at maximum. The velocities of the shuttlecock are reduced from the initial velocity of 67 m/s to the terminal velocity of approximately 7 m/s for approximately 0.6 s (Hubbard et al. 1997). In addition, turnover refers to the flipping experienced by a shuttlecock when undergoing heading change from nose pointing against the flight path at the moment of impact and a shuttlecock indicates the aerodynamically stable feature for the flip movement just after impact (Cohen et al. 2015). The turnover stability of a series of feather and synthetic shuttlecocks was measured to compare the performance of synthetic shuttlecocks to that of feather shuttlecocks (Calvin et al. 2013). The turnover stability of the shuttlecock is investigated through experiment and simulation, and the angular response of the shuttlecock in turnover was modelled and studied (Calvin et al. 2015). Furthermore, it was reported that the aerodynamic stability of the shuttlecock during flip movement was affected by gaps of the shuttlecock skirt in a previous study (Nakagawa et al. 2017). However, the mechanism of turnover stability of the shuttlecock has not been fully understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the unsteady flow field around the shuttlecock during flip movements. In the present, we simulated the flipping motion by wind tunnel experiments and visualized the flow field around the shuttlecock by a PIV technique.

The Effect of Core Stability Training on Dynamic Balance and Smash Stroke Performance in Badminton Players - An Evidence Based Study

Background: Badminton is one of the most popular sports and fastest racket sports in the world in which single or double players striking shuttle cock to and fro across the net to score a point. The important components for badminton players are muscle strength, muscular endurance, power, speed, agility, flexibility, balance and coordination. Core stability training is one of the essential fitness components of any racket sports player, especially for badminton players during smashing the shuttlecock smash through the game. Purpose: The purpose is to study the scientific evidences regarding the effect of core stability training on dynamic balance and smash stroke performance in badminton players. Methodology: A search for relevant articles was carried out using key words- Badminton, core stability training, dynamic balance and smash stroke performance and search engines- Google Scholar, PubMed, PEDro, Science Direct, SPOERT Discuss, Research Gate and CINAHL. Studies were selected from year 2010-2019. Ten studies were included in which there were 2 systemic reviews, 5 RCT, 2 correlation study,2 experimental study, and 1 cross sectional study. Results: 12 studies were reviewed from which 11 studies concluded that core stability training is effective in improving dynamic balance and smash stroke performance in badminton players. Conclusion: Based on the analysis of these 12 articles, it can be concluded that core stability training is effective in improving dynamic balance and smash stroke performance in badminton players. Clinical Implication: Core stability training is found to be effective improving and smash stroke performance in athletes with various racquet sports and can be performed to improve athletics skill performance. Keywords: Badminton, Core stability training, Dynamic balance and Smash stroke performance

PALMARIS LONGUS MUSCLE CONTRIBUTION TO MAXIMUM TORQUE AND STEADINESS IN HIGHLY SKILLED GRIP AND NON-GRIP SPORT POPULATIONS

Background: The anatomy, origin, function, and appearance of the Palmaris Longus Muscle (PLM) in different populations are well studied. However, little is known about its contribution to wrist flexion movements in sports. This study investigates whether the existence or absence of the PLM affects maximal torque output or torque consistency of submaximal wrist flexion moment. Methods: One hundred ninety-seven well-trained sports students were clinically examined to ascertain the presence of the PLM. Forty of them from different sport disciplines were assigned to two groups (athletes in handgrip sports: HG, athletes in non-handgrip sports: NHG). Their 80 upper limbs were divided based on the PLM-presence/absence and hand-dominance/non-dominance. Maximal Isometric Torque (MIT) at 150º, 180º, and 210º wrist angle, and torque steadiness at 150º and 180º, at 25%, 50%, and 75% of MIT were measured on a Humac Norm dynamometer. Results: In all MIT tests, HGs significantly surpassed NHGs, independently of the dominant or non-dominant side in presence of the PLM (p <.05). Steadiness was significantly higher in HGs than in NHGs in dominant hands having the PLM, at 25% and 75% of MIT at both angles (p <.05). Conclusions: It is concluded that the existence of the PLM provides an advantage in sustained handgrip sports (throwers, racquet sports, basketball, handball players), contributing positively to decreased torque variability and higher maximal torque independently of muscular length. Important implications for sports performance and injury prevention have also resulted.

Dominant and non-dominant arm bone mineral density of racquet athletes

Background and Purpose: The upper extremities, especially the arms and shoulders, are used intensively in racquet sports. In this work, our primary aim is to compare bone mineral densities (BMDs) between dominant and non-dominant arms in racquet athletes. We then compare BMDs between athletes playing racquet sports and non-athletes. Methods: A total of 24 racquet sports male athletes active for at least 10 years (age, 22.46 ± 2.41 years) and 22 non-athletes (age, 21.45 ± 1.74 years) voluntarily participated in this study. The BMDs of the humerus, radius, and ulna of the dominant and non-dominant arms of both groups were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: The BMDs of the proximal humerus and humeral shaft of dominant arms were significantly higher than those of non-dominant arms in athletes (19.85% vs. 12.02%); while statistically, no statistically significant difference in BMDs was found in non-athletes (P > 0.05). The BMDs of the dominant proximal humerus and humeral shaft of athletes were higher than those of non-athletes (P < 0.05). Non-dominant arm BMDs did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: BMD differences observed between the right and left arms of athletes indicate that, rather than confounding factors like genotype, right-/left-handedness, participation in racquet sports may influence BMDs in the related extremities.

Nutritional Ergogenic Aids in Racquet Sports: A Systematic Review

A nutritional ergogenic aid (NEA) can help athletes optimize performance, but an evidence-based analysis is required in order to support training outcomes or competition performance in specific events. Racquet sports players are regularly exposed to a high-intensity workload throughout the tournament season. The activity during a match is characterized by variable durations (2–4 h) of repeated high-intensity bouts interspersed with standardized rest periods. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO were searched from their inception until February 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two independent reviewers extracted data, after which they assessed the risk of bias and the quality of trials. Out of 439 articles found, 21 met the predefined criteria: tennis (15 trials), badminton (three trials), paddle (one trial), and squash (two trials). Among all the studied NEAs, acute dosages of caffeine (3–6 mg/kg) 30–60 min before a match have been proven to improve specific skills and accuracy but may not contribute to improve perceived exertion. Currently, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, beetroot juice, citrulline, and glycerol need more studies to strengthen the evidence regarding improved performance in racquet sports.