title: Physiological responses of skilled players during a competitive wheelchair tennis match.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine heart rate (HR, b.min(-1)) response during competitive match play of 6 men who were skilled wheelchair (WC) tennis players. Each participant completed an arm crank ergometer test that measured HR via a telemetry device and O2 via open circuit spirometry from rest until fatigue (.V(O2)peak). Each athlete participated in 2 competitive singles matches during which HRs were recorded in 5-second intervals and O2 was estimated using the corresponding HR values recorded during the arm ergometer tests. Data analysis revealed an average playing intensity of 69.4 +/- 8.9% of HRpeak and 49.9 +/-14.5% of .V(O2)peak. In conclusion, it is recommended that skilled adult WC tennis players perform off-court aerobic conditioning as part of their training program, because the intensity of a competitive WC tennis match is sufficiently high enough to stress the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Studies, School of Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. jroy@uab.edu
authors.forename: Jane L P
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Kristy Sayers
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Menear
authors.forename: Monika M A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Laurie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016552:Ergometry; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D013686:Telemetry; D013715:Tennis / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs