Anthropometric Characterization and Physical Performance by Age and Biological Maturation in Young Tennis Players

Abstract

The objective was to analyze anthropometric and physical performance variables as a function of chronological age and biological maturity in young Chilean tennis players. The study was observational, cross-sectional, with descriptive and analytical characteristics. Eighty-seven tennis players were evaluated (58 men 15.1 ± 0.8 years and 29 women, 15.3 ± 0.8 years). The measured anthropometric variables were a sprint test of 20m; a modified agility test; a sit-and-reach test and shoulder flexibility; manual grip strength; horizontal jump in feet; a medicine ball throw; a countermovement vertical jump; an abalakov vertical jump and a 20-m shuttle-run test. The growth velocity acceleration peak (APHV), skeletal muscle mass and fat mass were calculated, R2 and standard error of estimate (SEE) were examined. The results show that chronological age explained the anthropometric variables between 1 and 23% in men and 1 and 29% in women; by biological age, variables were explained between 3 and 53% in men and 2 and 42% in women. Of the physical performance variables, chronological age described between 2 and 24% of them in men and 1 and 29% in women; the same were explained by biological age between 1 and 19% in men and 1 and 26% in women. We conclude that anthropometric variables showed a better relationship with biological age, except for volume of fat tissue, while physical performance variables showed low association with both biological and chronological age.

Body Composition, Somatotype and Raw Bioelectrical Impedance Parameters of Adolescent Elite Tennis Players: Age and Sex Differences

“…However, modern coaches focus not only on the technical aspects but also on nutritional strategies to reduce BF. This view is supported by recent studies on youth tennis players, which obtained BF and SMM values highly similar to ours [ 35 , 36 ]. Indeed, this evolution to a lower BF and endomorphy has also been observed in other sports, such as soccer [ 12 , 49 ].…”

“…Luna-Villouta et al [ 35 ] also observed differences in BF and SMM percentages between a group of 58 male tennis players aged 15.4 ± 0.8 years and a group of 29 female tennis players aged 15.3 ± 0.8 years. These sex differences in body composition and somatotype were expected and have also been found between boys and girls of similar ages in other sports or in non-athlete populations [ 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

“…To our knowledge, only two recent studies have analyzed morphology and body composition in young tennis players. However, apart from height and body mass, one of them determined only body fat (BF) and slim muscle mass [ 35 ], and the other only body mass index (BMI) and BF [ 36 ]. National and international competitions for young tennis players are generally structured into chronological age-based groups.…”

Shoulder Torque Production and Muscular Balance after Long and Short Tennis Points

“…However, female players showed lower values when compared to the reference literature (165.4 ± 6.3 cm, 59.9 ± 6.2 kg, 21.9 ± 1.7 kg/m 2 , 16.3 ± 4.0/7.4 ± 2.6 mm and 27.0 ± 1.8/27.8 ± 1.7 cm) [ 38 ]. Furthermore, height and body mass values presented in the literature for males and females (174.2 ± 7.6, 64.3 ± 7.9, and 164.9 ± 3.7 cm, 50.1 ± 6.7 kg, respectively) [ 39 ] were also lower when compared with the current study. We verified in other studies that male players trained more hours per week than in this study (29.0 ± 6.7 h) [ 40 ], which can be attributed to age, sex, and level differences.…”

Determinantes de la masa ósea en tenistas jóvenes chilenos (Determinants of bone mass in young Chilean tennis players)

“…Sobre los partidos, si bien estos varían sustancialmente en su volumen total de duración, se ha establecido un tiempo promedio aproximado de 1,5 horas para un partido de 2 o 3 sets. Por lo expuesto, es que este deporte es considerado de alta carga física (Fernandez, 2006;Kovacs, 2006;Luna-Villouta et al, 2021;Ulbricht et al, 2016).…”