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Special Issue "Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion"

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Sport and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2023 | Viewed by 7065

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francisco Pradas de la Fuente
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Guest Editor

Department of Corporal Expression, Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 22001 Huesca, Spain
Interests: sport performance; human motricity; racket sports; physical activity and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Javier Courel-Ibáñez
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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Physical Activity and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
Interests: exercise testing; sport physiology; resistance training; health promotion; ageing; older adults; data analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Nicolae Ochiana
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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Physical Education and Sport Performance, Faculty of Health, Sports and Human Movement Sciences, University "Vasile Alecsandri" of Bacau, Bacău, Romania
Interests: sport performance; human motricity; racket sports; physical activity and health

Dr. Goran Munivrana
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Co-Guest Editor

Department for applied kinesiology of individual sports, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Interests: science of racket sports; performance analysis; kinanthropometry and motor skills

Special Issue Information

In recent years, racket sports have become widely practiced disciplines at a professional and recreational level, becoming an interesting educational content and an alternative for leisure time. Its great expansion, growth and evolution in any type of population, from young to old and including people with disabilities, requires carrying out scientific studies that analyze the impact of the practice of this type of sports causes on the body. The aim of this Special Issue is to invite researchers to delve into the knowledge of racket sports, introducing updated and multidisciplinary analyses to consider educational, physical, biomechanical, physiological, biochemical and psychological aspects related to health, education and physical and sports performance. We also encourage authors to send review articles on the current state of knowledge in this field.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Metabolic changes according to sports;
Physiological responses to training and competition;
Kinematic analyses;
Technical, tactical and temporal analysis;
Strength, speed, reaction time, flexibility and endurance;
Anthropometric characteristics according to sports;
Injuries in racket sports;
Psychology applied to racket sports;
Disability and racket sports;
Young athletes’ performance and health;
Women in racket sports;
Didactics of racket sports.

Dr. Francisco Pradas de la Fuente
Dr. Javier Courel-Ibáñez
Dr. Nicolae Ochiana
Dr. Goran Munivrana
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

exercise physiology
sports performance
injuries
physical education
motor learning
disability
fitness
metabolic response and biomechanics

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Heart Rate Response, Temporal Structure and the Stroke Technique Distribution in Table Tennis National Category Matches

Jon Mikel Picabea

Jesús Cámara

and

Javier Yanci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010739 - 31 Dec 2022

Viewed by 807

Abstract

The aims of this study were to analyze the heart rate response, the game temporal structure (i.e., mean total time of the matches, real playing time, total rest time) and the stroke technique distribution and to describe its relations in the table tennis national category in simulated competitions. A cohort of 60 table tennis male players (22.06 ± 8.32 years) played 30 simulated matches. The obtained results show a mean heart rate (HR_mean) of 142.69 ± 14.10 bpm and a peak heart rate (HR_peak) of 167.26 ± 16.51 bpm. Total strokes were 7505, being the 57.88% and 42.12% forehand and backhand strokes, respectively. The most frequent forehand strokes were service (SERV) (33.13%) and forward spin technique (SPIN) (40.75%) stroke types, with the left quadrant of the table away from the net (Z_5) (25%) and right quadrant of the table away from the net (Z_6) (20.72%) being the most frequent ball bouncing placements. Meanwhile, the most frequent backhand strokes were backspin technique (PUSH) (42.74%) and SPIN (31.86%) stroke types, with the intermediate left quadrant of the table (Z_3) (17.21%), Z_5 (31.22%) and Z_6 (18.54%) being the most frequent ball placements. The mean total time of the matches was 15.74 ± 3.82 min, the mean real playing time was 4.14 ± 1.47 min and the total rest time was 11.60 ± 2.67 min. Heart rate variables did not correlate significantly with the different stroke types or the game temporal variables (p > 0.05). However, stroke types and game temporal structure variables were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). This information can be useful to reveal players’ strengths and weaknesses and prepare subsequent training sessions, adapting training sessions to the needs of the athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion)

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Graphical abstract

Open AccessArticle

Personality Traits and Motives in Table Tennis Players

Filippo Marchese

Ivan Malagoli Lanzoni

and

Patrizia Steca

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10715; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710715 - 28 Aug 2022

Viewed by 761

Abstract

This study aims to investigate table tennis players’ personality traits and motives in the frame of the Big Five personality model and the self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation. A total of 447 Italian table tennis players ranging in level of play between the regional and international levels participated in the study. They completed a self-report questionnaire measuring their personality traits and motives to play table tennis. Findings showed conscientiousness as the most distinctive trait of table tennis players. No differences were detected between elite and non-elite players. Table tennis players are mainly motivated by factors belonging to the intrinsic pole of the self-determination motivational continuum. External reinforcements represent a minimal incentive to play this sport both for elite and non-elite athletes. The current findings help clarify the relationships between personality traits, playing certain types of sports, and achieving different performance levels. We conclude by outlining implications for applied sport psychology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion)

Open AccessArticle

Design and Validation of a New Tennis-Specific Reactive Agility Test—A Pilot Study

Goran Munivrana

Igor Jelaska

and

Mario Tomljanović

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10039; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610039 - 15 Aug 2022

Viewed by 636

Abstract

Agility is an important ability for tennis players, but there is an evident lack of studies focusing on the applicability of tennis-specific agility tests that capture a combination of the physical and cognitive agility performance. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to design and test measurement properties of the tennis-specific reactive agility test that would be feasible and practical for regular implementation. A total of 32 youth tennis players (21 males and 11 females; 10.85 ± 1.50 years) participated in this study. The measurement characteristics of the newly designed reactive agility tennis-specific (TS-RAN) test have been established by comparing it with two generic agility tests and with two tennis-specific pre-planned agility tests. The overall reliability of the new TS-RAN test can only be considered “moderate to good”, as although the results of participants showed good internal consistency, the within-subject reliability of the test proved to be unsatisfactory, since the participants showed a lack of performance consistency. This is not unexpected considering the very young age of the participants who performed the test for the very first time. The new TS-RAN test was highly projected (0.91) on the same single latent dimension, with the variance predominately explained by the tennis-specific agility tests. The test’s greatest strength is its high feasibility, since the test does not require any special set-up nor technical equipment, and that makes it practical for regular implementation in a practical setting. Further research studies are needed in order to confirm the test’s potential to be widely accepted and used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion)

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Open AccessArticle

Physical Fitness and Upper Limb Asymmetry in Young Padel Players: Differences between Genders and Categories

Francisco Pradas

Víctor Toro-Román

Miguel Ángel Ortega-Zayas

Duber Mary Montoya-Suárez

Bernardino Javier Sánchez-Alcaraz

and

Diego Muñoz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6461; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116461 - 26 May 2022

Viewed by 799

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the physical fitness and upper body asymmetries of young padel players aged between 13 and 16 years and to determine the possible differences between genders and categories. A total of 60 padel players were divided into four groups: under-14 male (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.45 years; height: 1.64 ± 0.07 m; weight: 54.7 ± 8.3 kg), under-14 female (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.44 years; height: 1.60 ± 0.05 m; weight: 51.5 ± 6.0 kg), under-16 male (n = 15; age: 15.44 ± 0.51 years; height:1.71 ± 0.04 m; weight: 63.88 ± 6.2 kg) and under-16 female (n = 15; age:15.46 ± 0.52 years; height:1.63 ± 0.05 m; weight: 55.08 ± 3.6 kg). Handgrip strength, ischiosural flexibility, gestural speed of the dominant arm, vertical jump, cardiorespiratory capacity, lateral movement, lateral acceleration and reaction time were measured. Male players showed better results in manual grip strength, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement (p < 0.05). Moreover, males presented a higher percentage of asymmetry in upper limb strength. Female players showed better reaction time and greater flexibility (p < 0.05). Regarding the differences between categories, the under-16 players showed greater flexibility, gestural speed, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement compared to the under-14 players. These results can be used as reference values for coaches/physical trainers of younger categories to improve health control and physical performance planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion)

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Figure 1

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Specific Physical Fitness in High-Level Table Tennis Players—Sex Differences

Francisco Pradas

Víctor Toro-Román

Ana de la Torre

Alejandro Moreno-Azze

Juan Francisco Gutiérrez-Betancur

and

Miguel Ángel Ortega-Zayas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5119; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095119 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1254

Abstract

Table tennis performance depends on multiple factors such as technique, tactics and fitness. Several studies have focused on investigating different technical-tactical variables. However, research analysing the specific physical qualities of this sport is scarce, particularly in the female sex. The aim of the present study was to assess the physical fitness variables associated with individual performance in elite table tennis players according to sex. Forty-eight elite players divided into males (n = 24; 25.38 ± 4.01 years) and females (n = 24; 22.33 ± 3.83 years) participated in the study. To determine physical fitness, participants performed vertical jump, hand grip strength, ergospirometry and lateral displacement tests (reaction time, displacement time and lateral acceleration). Male players showed higher values in vertical jump, hand grip strength and maximum oxygen consumption (p < 0.001). Likewise, male players moved laterally faster (p < 0.001). On the other hand, female players had a better reaction time towards the dominant side (p < 0.01). Elite male table tennis players showed better physical fitness compared to female players. Due to the scarcity of data on elite table tennis players, these results can serve as reference values for different table tennis practitioners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion)

Review

Jump to: Research

Open AccessReview

Performance Outcome Measures in Padel: A Scoping Review

Alejandro García-Giménez

Francisco Pradas de la Fuente

Carlos Castellar Otín

and

Luis Carrasco Páez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074395 - 06 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1781

Abstract

Padel is a modern doubles racket sport which has become popular around the world in the last decades. There has been an increase in the quantity of scientific research about this sport in the last years. Therefore, the main objective of this scoping review is to provide an updated contextualization of research regarding padel. PRISMA ScR was used in order to search for articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria in five fields of interest: the anthropometric profile, physiology and physical performance, biomechanics, the epidemiology of injuries, and match analyses Seventy-seven records were included in the study. Padel is an emerging sport both in sport and research terms. This scoping review provides coaches and researchers with all the knowledge available in the five fields of interest. Furthermore, this study enables them to make a map of the current state of the research about padel, and it opens up doors to future investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Racket Sports: Fitness, Physical Education, Physiological Responses and Health Promotion)

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