The Effect of a Neuromuscular vs. Dynamic Warm-up on Physical Performance in Young Tennis Players

Abstract

Fernandez-Fernandez, J, García-Tormo, V, Santos-Rosa, FJ, Teixeira, AS, Nakamura, FY, Granacher, U, and Sanz-Rivas, D. The effect of a neuromuscular vs. dynamic warm-up on physical performance in young tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 34(10): 2776–2784, 2020—The aim of this study was to examine performance-enhancing (i.e., training) effects of a neuromuscular warm-up (NWU) compared with a dynamic WU (DWU) in young tennis players. Twenty-eight well-trained male tennis players with a mean age of 15.09 ± 1.16 years participated in this study and were assigned to either a training group performing NWU (n = 14), or a group that followed DWU (n = 15) before tennis-specific training, for 8 weeks. Pretest and posttest included: speed (5, 10, and 20 m); modified 5-0-5 change of direction (COD) test; bilateral/unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ); 2 kg overhead, forehand, and backhand-side medicine ball throw performance (MBT); serve velocity, and shoulder strength and range-of-motion (ROM) performance (i.e., internal [IR]/external [ER] rotation). Results showed that both groups, NWU and DWU, significantly improved their sprint performances (5–20 m; [p < 0.05; d = 0.83–1.32]), CMJ (bilateral and unilateral [dominant side] [p < 0.005; d = 1.27–1.59]), overhead MBT (p = 0.014; d = 1.02), and some shoulder strength (i.e., IR dominant side [D], ER D, ER/IR ratio [p < 0.05; d = 0.86–1.59]) and ROM (i.e., ER D, total ROM D [p < 0.05; d = 0.80–1.02]) values. However, the interaction effects revealed that NWU compared with DWU produced greater performance gains in most of the analyzed parameters (i.e., 5–10 m sprint, CMJ, overhead MBT, serve speed). The inclusion of an NWU characterized by a relatively low volume (∼20–35 minutes), including general mobility, core, and shoulder strength exercises, combined with neuromuscular-related exercises (e.g., plyometric and acceleration/deceleration/COD drills), can be recommended to obtain positive effects in tennis performance-related variables.

Effect of Core Training on Skill Performance Among Athletes: A Systematic Review

“…Most traditional training approaches are not multi-planar and multi-articular, which splits the movement chain. These particular aspects are crucial for prompting improved performance (Fernandez-Fernandez et al, 2016;Fernandez-Fernandez et al, 2020). Another study showed that an unstable state of the body in the actual movement disallowed strength development in the stable state.…”

Effect of Functional Training on Physical Fitness Among Athletes: A Systematic Review

“…However, the training specificity literature has shown that the benefits of traditional resistance training for improving physical fitness is rarely transferred to sports performance (Li et al, 2019;Li, 2021). Most of the traditional resistance training methods are not multi-articular and multiplanar; these aspects seem fundamental for eliciting greater sports performance (Fernandez-Fernandez et al, 2016;Santos-rosa et al, 2020). On the other hand, a new exercise training method that has recently received much attention to developing athletes' physical fitness is functional training (Feito et al, 2018).…”

Traditional and Modified 5-0-5 Change of Direction Test: Normative and Reliability Analysis

“…Five studies have used novice athletes as their participants (16,20,26,41,67) with 5 studies also using subelite athletes (16,20,21,43,68). There was only a 1.79% difference between subelite and novice athlete times.…”

“…Like the traditional 5-0-5 COD test, we cannot comment on the interaction between sex and sport as no research groups have reported male and female COD times in the same sport for the modified 5-0-5 COD test. Nevertheless, 6 out of the 9 studies that reported performance data have involved tennis athletes (16,17,21,34,41,43). This makes sense as the movement patterns of the modified 5-0-5 COD test are very similar to movements performed during a tennis match.…”