How Mentally Fatiguing Are Consecutive World Padel Tour Matches?

Abstract

It is currently unknown whether mental fatigue occurs throughout a WPT competition and whether consecutive matches affect how mentally fatiguing a match is perceived to be. The objective was to quantify the effects of successive professional matches on mental fatigue. A total of 14 professional players (9 males, Mage = 25, 5 females, Mage = 21) participated during qualified rounds of a WPT with three eliminatory matches: Match 1 (morning) and 2 (afternoon) on day 1 (n = 14), Match 3 (morning) on day 2 (n = 6). Mental fatigue and motivation, with scales, and reaction time, with a 3-min Psychomotor Vigilance Test, were measured at two time intervals (pre and post matches (<30 min)). To analyze the evolution of these variables, a two-way repeated measures MANOVA was performed. An increase in mental fatigue from pre- to post-matches was observed (p < 0.01), with an accumulation of mental fatigue between matches played on day 1 (p < 0.01), maximizing the mental fatigue perceived during Match 2. Padel matches impair motivation and reaction time (p = 0.04), without effects between successive matches, which reinforced the idea that mental fatigue may impair padel performance (i.e., reaction time). Coaches should use training interventions and recovery strategies to counteract/avoid the accumulation of mental fatigue during professional tournaments.

Match Analysis, Physical Training, Risk of Injury and Rehabilitation in Padel: Overview of the Literature

“…A total of 479 padel players with a different level of experience were included in the studies and 1098 matches were also analyzed. Most of the studies are cross-sectional ( n = 3) [ 7 , 10 , 15 ] and observational ( n = 12) [ 3 , 7 , 9 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]; studies on match analysis utilized the systematic observation of padel match videos from official channels. The current literature argues over four different aspects of padel: match analysis, anthropometric and physical fitness, the biological effects of padel matches on athletes, and the risk of injury and rehabilitative approaches.…”

“…The current literature argues over four different aspects of padel: match analysis, anthropometric and physical fitness, the biological effects of padel matches on athletes, and the risk of injury and rehabilitative approaches. Almost all the study included were from Spain ( n = 16) [ 3 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]; only one was from Sweden [ 26 ]. Ten of the included studies investigated game dynamics [ 3 , 9 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], of which one [ 12 ] analyzed the court zone involved in the attacking and defensive phase of the match; six studies [ 3 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] investigated padel strokes, highlighting that the smash is one of the most effective strokes with which to stop the rally; on the other hand, the lob is the most valid in a defensive position [ 20 ].…”

“…Table 2 describes the studies’ methodological quality scores [ 29 ]. Eleven studies [ 7 , 10 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 28 ] had 10 points; three studies [ 9 , 18 , 24 ] had 9 points, two studies had 8 points [ 12 , 20 ], and one [ 26 ] had 5 points.…”

Performance Outcome Measures in Padel: A Scoping Review

“…Díaz-García et al [ 45 ] observed an increase in mental fatigue from pre- to post-world padel tour matches ( p < 0.01) and an impairment in reaction time ( p < 0.04).…”

“…Apart from that, some authors reported physical performance tests involving strength, power, and the ability to repeat sprints [ 8 , 42 , 58 , 65 , 67 , 87 ], serving as a reference for those athletes aiming to improve their performance. Another interesting—and less researched—issue was mental performance, with only one report focused on it, suggesting that inter-game mental fatigue could impair reaction times [ 45 ].…”