Effects of Plyometric Training on University Female Tennis Players' Physical Fitness and Serve Performance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of upper and lower limb plyometric training on the selected physical fitness and serve performance among university female tennis players in China. The main hypothesis of this study is to evaluate whether there are significant effects of 8 weeks of upper and lower limb plyometric training on selected physical fitness and serve performance among university female tennis players in China.

Detailed Description
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This intervention lasted for 8 weeks, two times each week, for 30-60 minutes of low-high intensity exercise. The content of the experimental group and control group of exercises mainly includes warm-up, primary content, and cool down. The intervention included push-ups and medicine ball exercises for the upper limbs and jumping, hopping exercises for the lower limbs. Exercises for the upper limbs were immediately followed by lower-limb exercises, with no intervening rest periods. all plyometric exercises, including those involving the upper and lower limbs, were executed with maximal effort, with the goal of reducing contact time during each repetition, and with no allowance for rest periods between jumps. During the intervention, the control group just continued with their regular training regime (e.g., normal fitness training, and injury prevention drills), twice a week, for the duration of the experiment.

Official Title
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Effects of Upper and Lower Limb Plyometric Training on Physical Fitness and Serve Performance Among University Female Tennis Players in China

Conditions
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Physical Illness, Skill, Coping

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Plyometric training
* Other: Routine training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: University female tennis players (aged 18-24 years old); Players who had been trained professionally for more than three years No history of recent surgery, no rehabilitation for the past 12 months; Not systematically trained in plyometric training; Exclusion Criteria: Tennis-specific training time less than 3 years; Players with a history of recent fractures or any injury; Presently involved in a plyometric training program;

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 24 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Plyometric training<br>The 8 weeks of plyometric training included push-ups and medicine ball exercises for the upper limbs and jumping, hopping exercises for the lower limbs. Exercises for the upper limbs were immediately followed by lower-limb exercises, with no intervening rest periods. | Other: Plyometric training<br>* Plyometric training can be described as a type of exercise that involves a rapid and forceful movement that consists of an eccentric contraction, followed by an immediate and explosive concentric contraction. Upper and lower limb plyometrics are exercises that enable an upper and lower body muscle group to react quickly to produce maximal strength<br>|
| Active Comparator: Routine training<br>During the intervention, the control group just continued with their routine training regime (e.g., normal fitness training, and injury prevention drills), twice a week, for the duration of the experiment. | Other: Routine training<br>* Regular tennis training, including normal fitness training, and injury prevention drills<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline power performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | Power is the ability to perform strength based movements quickly. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline strength performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | Strength is the maximal force or torque that a muscle can generate. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline speed performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | The ability to move all or part of the body as quickly as possible | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline agility performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | Agility is a skill considered to be important for many sports and has been defined as a rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline endurance performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | Endurance describes your body's ability to maintain physical activity for an extended amount of time. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline flexibility performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | Flexibility is the ability to move muscles and joints through a full normal range of motion. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline serve velocity performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | It is one of the most repeated strokes during the game. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 
| Change from baseline serve accuracy performance at 4 weeks and 8 weeks | In many sports, the accuracy of the execution of a motor skill determines success or failure. | Pretest: Before experiment; Mid-test: 4 weeks end; Post-test: 8 weeks end | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Physical fitness, Serve performance, Plyometric training