Search Results (30)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the neuromuscular fatigue response to playing in a singles pickleball tournament, as measured by performance on a countermovement jump test (CMJ). We hypothesized that players would exhibit neuromuscular fatigue after the tournament. Methods: Six adult pickleball players (five male and one female, M ± SD: 40.2 ± 10.1 years old, height = 178.7 ± 12.3 cm, body mass = 85.4 ± 16.7 kg) participated in a 15 game singles pickleball tournament. Prior to the tournament, everyone completed the CMJ to assess lower body strength and power on paired Hawkin Dynamics force plates. After the tournament, players repeated the CMJ. Mixed-effects regression modeling was used to examine changes in key outcomes measured from the CMJ. Results: All nine outcomes from the CMJ significantly changed from pre to post-tournament (e.g., means for net impulse increased from 2.32 ± 0.22 to 2.40 ± 0.18 N·s, p = 0.0006; RSImod increased from 0.28 ± 0.07 to 0.33 ± 0.05, p = 0.0001, and propulsive peak power increased from 41.79 ± 6.14 to 44.34 ± 4.70 W/kg, p < 0.0001). All the changes demonstrated improved performance in the CMJ test. Seven out of the nine outcomes demonstrated a large effect size by the partial-eta square statistic, with η²-partial of 0.153–0.487, and three key outcomes (RSImod, propulsive peak power, and propulsive mean power) also demonstrated large effect sizes by the F² statistic (F² of 0.4603–0.9495). Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, participants did not demonstrate significant neuromuscular fatigue. In contrast, they showed significant improvements in CMJ performance. It is possible that adequate rest between games prevented neuromuscular fatigue; alternately, singles pickleball may not provide enough stimulus in the lower body musculature to induce neuromuscular fatigue. Full article

The available scientific evidence on padel injuries is scarce and inconclusive. For this reason, the main aim was to analyze the differences in injury incidence in padel according to specific factors of the sport, as well as to the level of physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and the psychological state of the players. A sample of 216 padel players (mean age: 30.05 ± 9.50 years old) participated in this study. The participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire that included padel-specific variables, a sports injury questionnaire, the IPAQ, the MEDAS, and the CPRD. A higher incidence of injuries was observed in players with more experience (p < 0.001), more hours of play (p < 0.001) and at amateur or professional levels (p < 0.001). Mild and moderate injuries were common with mixed or herringbone soles; severe (p = 0.031), muscle, tendon and ligament injuries were common with herringbone soles (p = 0.023). Muscle and ligament injuries occurred more frequently on sand courts (p = 0.037), and with 350–370 g racquets (p = 0.029). Tendon injuries were associated with less mental ability (p = 0.014). There were no significant differences with the Mediterranean diet or level of physical activity. Injury in padel is related to sport-specific factors and psychological state but does not seem to be related to level of physical activity or diet. However, due to the cross-sectional design, causal relationships cannot be established, so future research in this field is needed. Full article

The aim was to analyze the frequency of finalist technical-tactical actions in professional padel according to their effectiveness and sex of the players. Through a descriptive empirical design, 878 points corresponding to ten WPT matches of the 2023 season were analyzed. Through the creation of decisional trees, it was obtained that, in smashes, recovery smashes and out of the court, the percentage of winning shots are higher in men’s padel than in women’s. While, in volleys, bandejas, viboras, off-the-wall and forehands/backhands, the percentage of winning shots is higher in women’s padel than in men’s. On the other hand, in men’s padel, smashes and recovery smashes are the shots with which more winnings are achieved, while in women’s, only smashes are the shots with which more winners are achieved. Coaches must plan training sessions to work on strategies that lead players to force errors on the opponent or make shots that allow them to achieve success. Full article

Player-tracking systems provide vital time–motion and tactical data for analyzing athletic performance. Ultra-wideband (UWB) systems are promising for racquet sports due to their accuracy and cost-effectiveness compared to GNSS and optical systems. This study evaluated the accuracy of a UWB tracking system (GenGee Insait KS) for tennis-specific movements by comparing it with an optical motion capture system (VICON). Ten amateur players (International Tennis Numbers: 2–5) participated, performing seven exercises, including warm-up, agility drills, and tactical drills, with and without racquets. Raw data from both systems were processed to calculate the distances traversed. The average root mean square error between the two systems was 0.65 m (X-axis) and 0.76 m (Y-axis). Significant measurement discrepancies were observed (standardized mean difference: 0.86–1.95), except for jogging and walking exercises (p > 0.05). The overall percentage error was 16.29%. The intraclass correlation coefficient for distance measurements was 0.91, indicating good reliability. Tasks involving rapid acceleration and directional changes, such as the spider run, exhibited larger errors (mean bias: 4.13 m, effect size: 1.03). While the UWB system demonstrated acceptable accuracy for steady movements, it showed notable discrepancies during high-speed, tennis-specific activities. Overestimation due to arm movement and hip rotation suggests caution when applying arm-mounted UWB devices in training and competitive settings. Full article

This study investigated the relative age effect (RAE) in junior padel players participating in the 2024 European Junior Championships by Teams. The sample included 285 athletes (165 boys from 16 boys’ teams and 120 girls from 12 girls’ teams). Dates of birth were categorized into quartiles, and data analysis employed Chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests, Fisher’s exact goodness-of-fit tests, Chi-squared tests, Fisher’s exact tests with Monte Carlo correction (95% CI), and Spearman correlations. The results showed no consistent RAE overall. However, in boys, players born in Q1 (CSR = 2.2) and in the last year of eligibility (CSR = 2.0) were more prevalent in higher-ranked teams. Position directly correlated with quartile (boys: p = 0.015; girls: p = 0.001) and category year (boys: p = 0.032; girls: p = 0.038). These findings suggest that while RAE was not observed across all junior padel players, boys’ teams, particularly in higher ranks, exhibited trends favoring early birth quartiles and the final year of eligibility. Such patterns may influence competitive performance and talent identification. Further research is needed to understand the implications of RAE in youth sports, particularly regarding talent development and team selection processes. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze the lob in professional padel, taking into account sex, the player’s side of play, the direction of the lob and the efficiency of the lob. For this purpose, 2063 lobs (933 in men’s and 1130 in women’s) corresponding to 10 matches of the 2024 season of the Premier Padel circuit were analyzed through systematic observation. The results indicated that there is no association between the player who makes the lob according to the side of play in professional padel (p = 0.796) and the category of play (men’s and women’s). The distribution of lobs in these categories, both men’s and women’s, was distributed 50% between both players from the same pair. On the other hand, in men’s professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.3), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 2.0). In addition, in women’s professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.6), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 6.0). Finally, in men’s padel, the lobs tended to overpass the opponents when they were down the middle (RTC = 4.1) and tended to not overpass when they were cross-court (RTC = 2.5). In conclusion, there are differences in the characteristics of lobs in professional padel according to sex. These results can be very useful for coaches for performing specific training on the lob according to the sex of their players. Full article

This study aimed to determine the distributions of number of shots per point, point duration, point pace and technical actions during the match in professional men and women padel players. A total of 35,145 hits (3239 points; men = 1602 and women = 1637) were analyzed in 20 matches corresponding to quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches of the World Padel Tour 2020 season. The observations were conducted through systematic observation and involved a total of 32 players (16 men and 16 women). Men’s points lasted 13.5–14.8 s, comprising 10–11 hits, resulting in a ratio of 0.80 shots per second, with no differences between sets. Women’s points lasted longer than men’s (14.4 to 16.2 s, p = 0.011) but included a similar number of shots per point, resulting in a lower rhythm of play (0.73–0.75 shots per second, p < 0.001), particularly in the third set (p = 0.004). Volleys, lobs and directs were used in >60% of the points, with a frequency of one to three times per point. Bandejas were used in 50–60% of the points, with a frequency of one to two times per point. Backwalls and flat smashes were used at least once in 30–48% of the points. Selective actions had a greater frequency of use in the third set (i.e., flat smash and smash x3 in women; forehand/backhand volleys and side-wall forehand in men), suggesting occasional changes in the style of play, but likely explained by the onset of fatigue. In conclusion, game volumes, intensity and actions remained broadly similar throughout professional padel matches. Full article

The aim of the present study was to evaluate skin temperature (Tsk) asymmetries, using infrared thermography, in professional padel players before (PRE), after (POST) and 10 min after training (POST10), and their relationship with perceptual variables and training characteristics. Thermal images were taken of 10 players before, after and 10 min after a standardized technical training. After training, Tsk of the dominant side was higher than before training in the anterior forearm (30.8 ± 0.4 °C vs. 29.1 ± 1.2 °C, p < 0.01; ES = 1.9), anterior shoulder (31.6 ± 0.6 °C vs. 30.9 ± 0.6 °C, p < 0.05; ES = 1.0) posterior arm (29.5 ± 1.0 °C vs. 28.3 ± 1.2 °C, p < 0.05; ES = 1.0), and posterior forearm (30.8 ± 0.9 °C vs. 29.3 ± 1.6 °C, p < 0.05; ES = 1.1). Likewise, these differences were significant POST10 in the anterior arm, anterior forearm, anterior shoulder, posterior arm and posterior forearm. Comparing the different moments of measurement (PRE, POST and POST10), the temperature was higher POST10 in all the regions analyzed except for the shoulder, abdominals, and lower back. Also, correlations were found between fatigue variation and temperature variation between limbs (Tsk dominance), and no correlation was found except between age and posterior thigh (|r| = 0.69; p < 0.05), and between the racket mass and anterior knee (|r| = 0.81; p < 0.01). In conclusion, infrared thermography allows monitoring of skin asymmetries between limbs in professional padel players, but these asymmetries were not related to overall fatigue variation, overall pain variation, years of experience and training hours. Full article

This study used a novel machine learning approach to uncover key serve variables that maximize effectiveness in men’s professional doubles tennis. A large dataset of 14,146 serves from 97 Davis Cup doubles matches played between 2010 and 2019 was analyzed using explainable AI techniques. The angle and distance from the bounce to the sidelines of the serves were found to best distinguish the points won with aces from rallies lasting more than three strokes. Optimal serve angle ranges of 5.7–8.7° substantially increased the probability of serving an ace by over 80%, compared to around 30% when serving used more central angles. Lateral bounce distances of 0–28 cm from the sidelines also boosted the ace probability by over 50%. The serve speed was shown to have less influence on serve effectiveness as compared to singles tennis, with velocities above 187 km h⁻¹ only increasing the probability of serving an ace by 10%. These findings have important practical implications for the tactical decision-making and technical training of serves in men’s professional doubles tennis. The data highlight that the angle and placement of serves are more important than velocity for attaining effective serves in doubles. Coaches and players can use this knowledge to pay special attention to the most important variables in the effectiveness of serves, such as the line distance and angle, in order to maximize the performance of the doubles serve. The novel methodology used in this study provides a valid and reliable way to calculate the efficiency of actions in various sport disciplines using tracking data and machine learning approaches. Full article

Badminton, a dynamic racquet sport demanding agility and power, features the overhead forehand smash as a pivotal offensive shot. Utilizing 3D motion analysis, this research delves into the intricate biomechanical facets underpinning this pivotal shot, with a dual focus on both novice and proficient players. Through a comparative analysis of these two player cohorts, the investigation aims to elucidate the fundamental factors influencing the quality of the forehand smash. Our findings reveal that skilled players exhibit significant improvements in smash quality, including a 60.2% increase in shuttlecock speed, reduced clearance height, and flight angle at release. These enhancements are associated with specific determinants, such as consistent positioning, racket angle at impact, and range of motion (ROM) in various joints. More crucially, full-body tension-arc formation and a four-segment whip-like smash contribute to these improvements. Unique to the whip-like smash is the rapid trunk and shoulder rotations in early whip-like control inducing passive elbow flexion and wrist over-extension, enhancing the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effect of muscles for a more powerful smash. Emphasizing this uniqueness and the determinants simplify smash learning, potentially boosting training effectiveness. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of badminton’s biomechanics and offers practical implications for coaches and players to enhance their forehand smashes, especially among beginners. Full article

Body pain, often considered as an early sign of injury in young players, warrants thorough study. This study aimed to examine the distribution of badminton-related pain and prevalence in pre-adolescent and adolescent badminton players. Profiles of badminton-related pain were surveyed using a questionnaire among 366 pre-adolescent and adolescent badminton players aged 7–12 years. The distribution of badminton-related pain was described, and the pain incidence was calculated. Proportions of pain per 1000-training-hour exposures were the main outcome measures. The analysis considered various age groups (7–8, 9–10, and 11–12 years) and years of badminton experience (≤2, 2–3, and > 3 years). In total, 554 cases of badminton-related pain were reported. The ankle was the most common site, followed by knee, plantar, shoulder, and lower back. The overall pain rate per 1000-training-hour exposure was 3.06. The 11–12-year-old group showed the highest pain rate, significantly greater than the 7–8-year-old group and the 9–10-year-old group. Additionally, the prevalence of pain exhibited an increasing trend with age. Finally, regardless of the age groups, participants with 2–3 years of badminton experience had the highest pain rate. These findings might help inform targeted interventions to reduce the high prevalence of pain in various body regions across pre-adolescent and adolescent badminton players. Full article

Padel is the world’s fastest growing racket sport. However, the analysis of the intake of sports supplements in padel players is scarce. The aim of this research was to analyse and compare the type of diet and the use of sports supplements in padel players according to their competition level and sex. A total of 123 players (94 men and 29 women) participated in the study. Subjects were divided according to their sex and competition level. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire on diet type and nutritional supplement intake. There were differences found in diet type between competition levels. Regarding players’ sex, differences in the number of supplements consumed were reported (p < 0.01). Relationships were found between the number of supplements ingested and the perceived effectiveness of supplements with frequency and time of training (p < 0.05). Creatine in men (≈15%) and vitamin complexes (≈10%) in women were the most used supplements. Lower level padel players do not adapt their diet to the physical demands of padel. Male padel players use a greater number of supplements than female padel players. It is important that nutrition specialists advise players to control diets and supplement. Full article

This study investigates experimentally, numerically, and analytically the performance of different string materials (Kevlar, synthetic gut, natural gut, and polyester) on badminton racquets. Vibration and impact tests with a shuttlecock were performed using a racquet frame made of carbon graphite mixed with epoxy resin. Different string tensions were considered in the tests (20, 22, 24, 28, 30, and 34 lb), as well as different hitting locations on the racquet frame. The results show that, as the diameter of the strings increased, the elasticity of the string decreased from 0.529 to 0.447 for diameters ranging from 0.62 to 0.70 mm. Subsequently, a badminton racquet and shuttlecock were modeled using SolidWorks2018^® software (version 26), and a maximum displacement was applied to the ball to simulate an impact on the string bed. The natural frequency, maximum deformation and maximum stress were calculated analytically, and a finite element analysis was also performed using ANSYS2022 R2^® software (version 22.2). The analytical and numerical results from ANSYS^® showed good agreement (within 5% accuracy). The results of the study show that the natural frequency of a racquet with Kevlar strings was significantly higher than that of racquets with synthetic gut, natural gut, or polyester string materials. Specifically, the natural frequency of a racquet made of carbon graphite and epoxy resin was 23.0%, 30.7%, and 36.2% higher than that of racquets with synthetic gut, natural gut, and polyester string material, respectively. On the basis of this finding, Kevlar was chosen as the preferred material for badminton racquets strings, and a parametric analysis was then conducted. The study showed that slightly lowering the tension of the off-centered strings had a minimal effect on the von Mises stress distribution of the ball and string bed. In addition to investigating string materials, this study also examined the effects of pull and diameter variations of racquet strings on vibrations during impact. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of racquet and strings in badminton, and it also provides new insights into the factors that can affect performance in the sport. By analyzing the performance of different string materials and examining the effects of pull and diameter variations of racquet strings, this study provides valuable information for players and manufacturers looking to optimize their equipment for maximum performance. Full article

α-Actinin-3 is a protein with a structural role at the sarcomeric Z-line in skeletal muscle. As it is only present in fast-type muscle fibers, α-actinin-3 is considered a key mechanical component to produce high-intensity muscle contractions and to withstand external tension applied to the skeletal muscle. α-Actinin-3 is encoded by the gene ACTN3, which has a single-nucleotide polymorphism (p.R577X; rs1815739) that affects the expression of α-actinin-3 due to the presence of a stop codon. Individuals homozygous for the 577R allele (i.e., RR genotype) and RX heterozygotes express functional α-actinin-3, while those homozygous for the 577X (i.e., XX genotype) express a non-functional protein. There is ample evidence to support the associations between the ACTN3 genotype and athletic performance, with higher frequencies of the 577R allele in elite and professional sprint and power athletes than in control populations. This suggests a beneficial influence of possessing functional α-actinin-3 to become an elite athlete in power-based disciplines. However, no previous investigation has determined the frequency of the ACTN3 genotypes in elite badminton players, despite this sport being characterized by high-intensity actions of intermittent nature such as changes of direction, accelerations, jumps and smashes. The purpose of this study was to analyze ACTN3 R577X genotype frequencies in professional badminton players to establish whether this polymorphism is associated with elite athlete status. A total of 53 European Caucasian professional badminton players competing in the 2018 European Badminton Championships volunteered to participate in the study. Thirty-one were men (26.2 ± 4.4 years) and twenty-two were women (23.4 ± 4.5 years). Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the differences in the distribution of ACTN3 genotypes (RR, RX and XX) between categories and sexes. The ACTN3 RR genotype was the most frequent in the sample of professional badminton players (RR = 49.1%, RX = 22.6% and XX = 28.3%). None of the badminton players ranked in the world’s top ten possessed the XX genotype (RX = 60%, RR = 40%). The distribution of the ACTN3 genotypes was similar between male and female professional badminton players (men: RR = 45.2%, RX = 25.8% and XX = 29.0%; women: RR = 54.5%, RX = 18.2% and XX = 27.3%; χ² = 0.58; p = 0.750). The distribution of the ACTN3 genotypes in badminton players was different from the 1000 genome database for the European population (χ² = 15.5; p < 0.001), with an overrepresentation of the RR genotype (p < 0.05) and an underrepresentation of the RX genotype (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the expression of functional α-actinin-3, associated with RR and RX genotypes in the ACTN3 gene may confer an advantage for reaching the status of elite athlete in badminton, and especially the world’s top-ten ranking. Large-scale studies with different ethnic backgrounds are needed to confirm the association of the R allele of ACTN3 with badminton performance. Full article

This study evaluated the accuracy of tennis-specific stroke and movement event detection algorithms from a cervically mounted wearable sensor containing a triaxial accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer. Stroke and movement data from up to eight high-performance tennis players were captured in match-play and movement drills. Prototype algorithms classified stroke (i.e., forehand, backhand, serve) and movement (i.e., “Alert”, “Dynamic”, “Running”, “Low Intensity”) events. Manual coding evaluated stroke actions in three classes (i.e., forehand, backhand and serve), with additional descriptors of spin (e.g., slice). Movement data was classified according to the specific locomotion performed (e.g., lateral shuffling). The algorithm output for strokes were analysed against manual coding via absolute (n) and relative (%) error rates. Coded movements were grouped according to their frequency within the algorithm’s four movement classifications. Highest stroke accuracy was evident for serves (98%), followed by groundstrokes (94%). Backhand slice events showed 74% accuracy, while volleys remained mostly undetected (41–44%). Tennis-specific footwork patterns were predominantly grouped as “Dynamic” (63% of total events), alongside successful linear “Running” classifications (74% of running events). Concurrent stroke and movement data from wearable sensors allows detailed and long-term monitoring of tennis training for coaches and players. Improvements in movement classification sensitivity using tennis-specific language appear warranted. Full article