Effects of repeated sprint ability training period on cardio-respiratory fitness in adolescent tennis players

Repeated and brief explosive movements separated by short recovery periods are very common during a tennis match. Consequently, training this intervallic form of exercise should be considered when designing tennis training schedules. Therefore, the present study was carried out in order to exclude any detrimental effect of the addition of a repeated sprint ability (RSA) training period on cardio-respiratory fitness adaptations in young tennis players. Methods: Twenty-two male tennis players (age: 14±1,3 years) were included after parental informed consent. All of the subjects followed a similar training schedule before starting the study. For the study, subjects were divided in three training groups: a) a control group (C; n=6) that continued the previous training schedule; b) a first experimental group (E1; n=7) that continued the previous training schedule, and in addition performed one RSA training session per week; and c) a second experimental group (E2; n=9), similar to E1, but that performed two RSA training sessions per week. The intervention period lasted six weeks. Before and after the intervention period the subjects were subjected to a maximal stress test on a treadmill with continuous monitoring of the cardio-respiratory function. Mean VO2max, HRmax, HR and VO2 at VT1 and VT2 were compared among the three groups as well as intra-group before and after the intervention period. The statistical analysis was performed in a simple masked fashion. Results: The three groups were comparable in age and in general anthropometric measurements. Not statistical differences were found in the VO2max among the groups neither before (C=48,5±1,5; E1=50,04±3,3; E2=52,2±1,1 mL/Kg/min; ANOVA) and after the intervention (C=49,9±1,4; E1=51,9±1,7; E2=53±1,6 mL/Kg/min; ANOVA). Similarly, no differences were noted among the groups in the VO2 and HR at both VT, as well as in HRmax before the intervention. After the intervention: a) VO2 and HR at VT1 were significantly higher in group E1, in comparison with C but not with E2 (p<0,05, ANOVA); and b) HR at VT1 was significantly higher in E1 in comparison with the other groups (p<0,05, ANOVA). No statistical differences were noted among the groups in the other variables. Discussion: Our results support the idea that adding up to two sessions per week of RSA training to the regular training schedule during six weeks does not interfere with the cardio-respiratory fitness adaptation in adolescent male tennis players.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Julkaistu Tekijä Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.

Aiheet: tennis juniori huippu-urheilu nuoriso harjoittelu sprintti nopeus suorituskehitys syke hapenottokyky maksimi
Aihealueet: urheilukilpailut biologiset ja lääketieteelliset tieteet
Julkaisussa: 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012
Toimittajat: R. Meeusen, J. Duchateau, B. Roelands, M. Klass, B. De Geus, S. Baudry, E. Tsolakidis
Julkaistu: Brügge Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2012
Sivuja: 444
Julkaisutyypit: kongressin muistiinpanot
Kieli: englanti (kieli)
Taso: kehittynyt