title: Leg ability factors in tennis players.
abstract: We investigated the effects of leg stiffness on running speed, jump height and leg power in 13 male 2(nd)- and 3(rd)-series ranked tennis players (23 ± 3 years old, 73.2 ± 8.4 kg, 1.81 ± 0.06 m). Leg stiffness and jump height were assessed using jumping and hopping tests. Mean running speeds over 20 m and 40 m (speed₂₀ and speed₄₀, respectively) were determined from a sprint test. Theoretical maximal leg power (P(maxth)) was extrapolated from a force-velocity test performed on a cycle ergometer. Leg stiffness averaged 478.7 ± 181.7 N.m⁻¹.kg⁻¹ (34,808 ± 12,573 N.m⁻¹. It was significantly correlated to speed₂₀ and counter movement jump height (r=0.60, P=0.028 and r=0.58, P=0.0407, respectively). There were also significant correlations between P (maxth) and counter-movement jump height (r=0.59, P=0.0335) and between P(maxth) and speed₄₀ (r=0.58, P=0.0393). This study characterizes leg stiffness in tennis players and brings new information concerning the way it is related to several other muscular biomechanical parameters.
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine, EA 4334 Motricité, Interaction, Performance, Le Mans, France. sylvain.durand@univ-lemans.fr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ripamonti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beaune
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016552:Ergometry; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013715:Tennis / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult