title: Identification of temporal pathomechanical factors during the tennis serve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to measure the effects of temporal parameters on both ball velocity and upper limb joint kinetics to identify pathomechanical factors during the tennis serve and (b) to validate these pathomechanical factors by comparing injured and noninjured players.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serves of expert tennis players were recorded with an optoelectronic motion capture system. These experts were then followed during two seasons to identify overuse injuries of the upper limb. Correlation coefficients assessed the relationships between temporal parameters, ball velocity, and peaks of upper limb joint kinetics to identify pathomechanical factors. Temporal parameters and ball velocity were compared between injured and noninjured groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Temporal pathomechanical factors were identified. The timings of peak angular velocities of pelvis longitudinal rotation, upper torso longitudinal rotation, trunk sagittal rotation, and trunk transverse rotation and the duration between instants of shoulder horizontal adduction and external rotation were significantly related to upper limb joint kinetics and ball velocity. Injured players demonstrated later timings of trunk rotations, improper differences in time between instants of shoulder horizontal adduction and external rotation, lower ball velocities, and higher joint kinetics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study imply that improper temporal mechanics during the tennis serve can decrease ball velocity, increase upper limb joint kinetics, and thus possibly increase overuse injuries of the upper limb.
authors: 1M2S Laboratory, UFR APS, University of Rennes 2, ENS Cachan, Bruz, FRANCE; and 2Upper Limb Orthopaedic Surgery Unit, Pontchaillou University Hospital, Rennes, FRANCE.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Martin
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Kulpa
authors: Mickaël
authors: M
authors: Ropars
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Delamarche
authors: Benoit
authors: B
authors: Bideau
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013715:Tennis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries