Comparison of Energy Expenditure of Youth Playing Tennis During Practice and Match Settings

Abstract

Background:Researchers have investigated the energy expenditure of tennis practice and match play in adults but not youth. Methods: VO 2 was recorded for 36 youth, ages 9 to 18, during 10-minute bouts of tennis practice and match play. A GLM was used to compare VO 2 between practice and match play and among age groups (9-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-18 years); also to compare the difference in adult and child-derived MET values (ΔMET). Results: VO 2 was higher for tennis match play vs. practice (P < .05) and there was a trend for 16 to 18 year olds having lower VO 2 than 9 to 12 year olds (P = .055). ΔMET did not differ between settings but varied by age group (P = .004); it was highest in 9-to 12-year-olds and lowest in 16-to 18-yearolds. Conclusions: Youth expend more energy while playing a tennis match than practice, regardless of age. Child-derived MET values equaled those of adults once youth reached ages 16 to 18.

Notational Analysis and Physiological and Metabolic Responses of Male Junior Badminton Match Play

“…However, junior athletes are not simply miniature adults, and their physiological responses are not commensurately scaled-down versions of adults [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. For example, young tennis players incur a substantially greater energetic cost than their older counterparts [ 18 ]. Similarly, even when anthropometrically matched, age-related factors affect the physiological responses during cycling in participants of differing ages [ 19 ].…”