Sequencing Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Physical Fitness in Youth Elite Tennis Players

TLDR

Neuromuscular training is used to enhance athletic performance, yet its optimal sequencing relative to sport‑specific practice in youth elite tennis players remains uncertain. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 5‑week neuromuscular training program performed before or after a tennis session on selected physical fitness components in prepubertal elite players. Sixteen high‑level tennis players (mean age 12.9 ± 0.4 yr) were randomized to perform neuromuscular training before tennis (BT, n = 8) or after tennis (AT, n = 8), with pre‑ and post‑tests measuring sprint speed, agility, countermovement jump, medicine‑ball throw, and serve velocity. NMT before tennis produced significant improvements in sprint speed (d = 0.52–1.08), agility (d = 0.22), CMJ (d = 0.29), medicine‑ball throw (d = 0.51), and serve velocity (d = 0.32), whereas NMT after tennis yielded trivial or negative effects.

Abstract

Abstract Fernandez-Fernandez, J, Granacher, U, Sanz-Rivas, D, Sarabia Marín, JM, Hernandez-Davo, JL, and Moya, M. Sequencing effects of neuromuscular training on physical fitness in youth elite tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 32(3): 849–856, 2018—The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a 5-week neuromuscular training (NMT) implemented before or after a tennis session in prepubertal players on selected components of physical fitness. Sixteen high-level tennis players with a mean age of 12.9 ± 0.4 years participated in this study, and were assigned to either a training group performing NMT before tennis-specific training (BT; n = 8) or a group that conducted NMT after tennis-specific training (AT; n = 8). Pretest and posttest included: speed (5, 10, and 20 m); modified 5-0-5 agility test; countermovement jump (CMJ); overhead medicine ball throw (MBT); and serve velocity (SV). Results showed that the BT group achieved positive effects from pretest to posttest measures in speed ( d = 0.52, 0.32, and 1.08 for 5, 10, and 20 m respectively), 5-0-5 ( d = 0.22), CMJ ( d = 0.29), MBT ( d = 0.51), and SV ( d = 0.32), whereas trivial (10 m, 20 m, CMJ, SV, and MBT) or negative effects ( d = −0.19 and −0.24 for 5 m and 5-0-5, respectively) were reported for the AT group. The inclusion of an NMT session before the regular tennis training led to positive effects from pretest to posttest measures in performance-related variables (i.e., jump, sprint, change of direction capacity, as well as upper-body power), whereas conducting the same exercise sessions after the regular tennis training was not accompanied by the same improvements.