Original scientific paper
Differences in Energy Capacities between Tennis Players and Runners
Dario Novak
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Vlatko Vučetić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Sanja Žugaj
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to determine differences between elite athletes and tennis players in order to provide a clearer picture regarding the energy demands in modern tennis. Forty-eight (48) athletes and 24 tennis players from Croatian national leagues were compared in morphological and physiological parameters of an all-out incremental treadmill test with gas exchange measurements. Tennis players’ HRmax (192.96±7.75 bpm) shows values that are most different to 400-meters sprinters (200.13±6.95 bpm). Maximum running speed of tennis players on the treadmill (vmax) is no different with the speed achieved by sprinters, while there are significant differences among other athletes. Values in
running speed at anaerobic threshold (vAnT) show no statistically significant difference with the values for athlete sprinters and 400-m sprinters. Values of RvO2 max for tennis players indicate significant similarities with athlete sprinters and 400-m sprinters while the values of RvO2 AnT are nearly identical with the values for sprinters and show no statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The results indicate that values achieved by tennis players approximate most different those of the middle and long distance runners. This singles out the possible importance of the anaerobic capacity and the high level of sprint endurance in tennis players. Knowing these characteristics is the basis for planning and implementing training systems that will enable the increase and optimal usage of energy capacities of tennis players in possibly improving sports results.
Keywords
fitness testing; assessing physiological demands of physical activity; sport and exercise psychology; elite performance; endurance
Hrčak ID:
102464
URI
Publication date:
23.5.2013.
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