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INJURIES AND STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PRACTICES IN COLLEGIATE TENNIS

Abstract

Ecaterina Vasenina1, William B. Hammert2, Ryo Kataoka2, Scott J. Dankel3, Samuel L. Buckner2. 1University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. 2University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. 3Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the relationship between injury rates and strength and conditioning practices in collegiate tennis. METHODS: College tennis team coaches were surveyed on their injury rates and strength and conditioning practices over the past year. Coaches reported the number of ankle sprains, ankle fractures, thigh muscle strains, knee ligament strain, groin muscle strain, amongst others. Coaches were also surveyed (yes/no) on whether their training program included training related to upper body or lower body “strength”, “power”, “muscle growth”, and “maximal eccentric exercise”. Separate regression analyses were ran in the upper and lower body to examine the relationship between total injuries and participation in training focused on strength, power, growth and maximal eccentric exercise. RESULTS: A total of 111 coaches were surveyed. The most frequent injury observed were ankle sprains (144 injures), followed by paraspinal muscle strains (126 injuries), 95 internal or subacromial impingements, 82 thigh muscle strains, 75 groin muscle strains, and 68 abdominal muscle strains. When pooled, there were a total of 355 lower body injuries and 260 upper body injuries reported. Strength and conditioning practices explained 9.9% of the variance of injury rates in the upper body (R2= 0.099). The only significant predictor of upper body injury was participation in training related to upper body muscle growth (β= 1.613, p = 0.013). In addition, strength and conditioning practices explained 11.1% of the variance of injury rates in the lower body (R2= 0.111). The only significant predictor of lower body injury was participation in training related to lower body muscle growth (β= 1.687, p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study suggest that a focus on upper and lower body muscle hypertrophy may increase risk of injury in the sport of tennis. Future research should examine ways to reduce injuries in tennis and relationship between strength and conditioning exercises and injuries.

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