The Impact of Recovery Practices Adopted by Professional Tennis Players on Fatigue Markers According to Training Type Clusters

The effectiveness of cryostimulation exposure on sleep and recovery in male athletes: Timing considerations

The objectives of the study were (i) to evaluate the effects of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) after training as an effective tool to improve sleep and recovery and (ii) to determine which exposure schedule for WBC (immediately after training vs. 1h before bedtime) is the most appropriate to improve sleep and recovery. Twenty-two well-trained male athletes or triathletes (23.1 ± 3.5-years) were recruited in this controlled crossover protocol. Each participant completed the three experimental sessions, each composed of a running training session and one night of sleep analysis. Depending on the experimental condition, subjects were exposed-or not (CONT)-to WBC immediately after training (CRYO 7 p.m.) or 1h before going to bed (CRYO 10 p.m.). All participants were randomly assigned to each condition, spaced seven days apart. Sleep was monitored via actimetry, cerebral activity recordings, heart rate variability, body core temperature, and perceptual measurements. WBC after training did not modify subjective or objective sleep parameters compared to the control condition. However, WBC significantly improved cardiac parasympathetic activity. More specifically, it was more activated during the night following the CRYO 10 p.m. condition than in the other experimental conditions. Core body temperature (CBT) 1h after bedtime was the lowest in the CRYO 10 p.m. condition. This study confirmed the effectiveness of WBC as a recovery technique after intense evening training. We suggest that WBC may exhibit the most significant benefit on recovery if the session is performed 1h before bedtime, acting on subsequent parasympathetic activation and CBT drop.

Retirements of professional tennis players in ATP and WTA tour events

Professional tennis competition at the highest levels requires high physical, technical, tactical, and mental demands. Player retirement is a scenario that often occurs at the highest echelons of the game. The objective of this study was to descriptively determine which factors influence retirement of matches in tennis. Matches from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tours played over 44 and 46 years were included in the study, respectively. The results showed an increasing trend in the incidence of retirements in both ATP and WTA events, especially in recent years. Factors associated with the match characteristics, such as the type of surface, the type of tournament, and the round of the draw, were shown to influence retirement. Variables associated with player characteristics, such as the age difference between players, did not show to influence retirement, whereas the ranking difference did. When comparing ATP and WTA matches, similar results were observed in which surfaces and tournaments had the highest or lowest incidence of retirements. On the other hand, as per the rounds, the results are not conclusive. The findings highlight the growing trend of match retirements in professional tennis and emphasize the relevant influence of match characteristics such as surface type, tournament type, and round of the draw. These insights can guide coaches, players, and tournament organizers in developing strategies to mitigate retirements and inform future research on enhancing player longevity and performance in tennis.

Energy Expenditure of Elite Male and Female Professional Tennis Players During Habitual Training

Understanding the daily energy expenditure of athletes during training is important to support recovery, adaptation, and the maintenance of performance. The aim of the current research was to assess the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and the acute energy expenditure (EE) of tennis training sessions during habitual training of elite tennis players. Using a cohort study design, 27 (n = 10, male; age; 22.3 ± 3.2 years and n = 17, female; age: 23.8 ± 3.5 years) elite singles tennis players were assessed for TDEE and tennis training EE. Using Actiheart activity monitors during a 2- to 5-day training period, male players were analyzed for 26 days and 33 (1.3 ± 0.5 sessions/day) tennis training sessions, and female players for 43 days and 58 (1.2 ± 0.4 sessions/day) tennis training sessions. Male TDEE (4,708 ± 583 kcal/day) was significantly higher than female (3,639 ± 305 kcal/day). Male absolute and relative tennis training EEs (10.2 ± 2.3 kcal/min and 7.9 ± 1.4 kcal·hr-1·kg-1) were significantly higher than those of females (7.6 ± 1.0 kcal/min and 6.8 ± 0.9 kcal·hr-1·kg-1). The resting metabolic rate was assessed via indirect calorimetry. The physical activity level for both groups was 2.3 AU. The TDEE of male and female players during habitual training now highlights the continual cycle of high energy demands experienced by the elite tennis player. The broad ranges of TDEE and EE reported here suggest individual assessment and nutritional planning be prioritized, with a particular focus on carbohydrate requirements.

Cold-water immersion and whole-body cryotherapy attenuate muscle soreness during 3 days of match-like tennis protocol

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), cold-water immersion (CWI) and passive recovery (PAS) on tennis recovery.

METHODS

Thirteen competitive male tennis players completed three consecutive match-like tennis protocols, followed by recovery (WBC, CWI, PAS) in a crossover design. Five tennis drills and serves were performed using a ball machine to standardize the fatiguing protocol. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) peak torque, creatine kinase activity (CK), muscle soreness, ball accuracy and velocity together with voluntary activation, low- and high-frequency torque and EMG activity were recorded before each protocol and 24 h following the third protocol.

RESULTS

MVC peak torque (- 7.7 ± 11.3%; p = 0.001) and the high- to low-frequency torque ratio (- 10.0 ± 25.8%; p < 0.05) decreased on Day 1 but returned to baseline on Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 (p = 0.052, all p > 0.06). The CK activity slightly increased from 161.0 ± 100.2 to 226.0 ± 106.7 UA L-1 on Day 1 (p = 0.001) and stayed at this level (p = 0.016) across days with no differences between recovery interventions. Muscle soreness increased across days with PAS recovery (p = 0.005), while no main effect of time was neither observed with WBC nor CWI (all p > 0.292). The technical performance was maintained across protocols with WBC and PAS, while it increased for CWI on Day 3 vs Day 1 (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Our 1.5-h tennis protocol led to mild muscle damage, though neither the neuromuscular function nor the tennis performance was altered due to accumulated workload induced by consecutive tennis protocols. The muscle soreness resulting from tennis protocols was similarly alleviated by both CWI and WBC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

IRB No. 2017-A02255-48, 12/05/2017.

Real-Life Application of a Wearable Device towards Injury Prevention in Tennis: A Single-Case Study

The purpose of this article is to present the use of a previously validated wearable sensor device, Armbeep, in a real-life application, to enhance a tennis player’s training by monitoring and analysis of the time, physiological, movement, and tennis-specific workload and recovery indicators, based on fused sensor data acquired by the wearable sensor—a miniature wearable sensor device, designed to be worn on a wrist, that can detect and record movement and biometric information, where the basic signal processing is performed directly on the device, while the more complex signal analysis is performed in the cloud. The inertial measurements and pulse-rate detection of the wearable device were validated previously, showing acceptability for monitoring workload and recovery during tennis practice and matches. This study is one of the first attempts to monitor the daily workload and recovery of tennis players under real conditions. Based on these data, we can instruct the coach and the player to adjust the daily workload. This optimizes the level of an athlete’s training load, increases the effectiveness of training, enables an individual approach, and reduces the possibility of overuse or injuries. This study is a practical example of the use of modern technology in the return of injured athletes to normal training and competition. This information will help tennis coaches and players to objectify their workloads during training and competitions, as this is usually only an intuitive assessment.

Timing of Preexercise Partial-Body Cryotherapy Exposure to Promote Jump Performance

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the effect of partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) exposure 1, 2, or 3 hours before maximal-effort jump performance, salivary enzyme concentration, perceived readiness, and well-being.

METHODS

Male team-sport players (N = 27; 24.2 [3.6] y; 91.5 [13.2] kg) were exposed to a blinded bout of PBC (-135°C [6°C]) and control (-59°C [17°C]) either 1, 2, or 3 hours prior to countermovement jumps. Passive saliva samples were collected to determine α-amylase concentration. Self-reported performance readiness and well-being questionnaires were completed using a 1-5 Likert scale.

RESULTS

Differences in the change in mean countermovement jump velocity and absolute power between PBC and control were unclear at 1 hour (+1.9% [5.3%], P = .149; +0.7% [10.6%], P = .919; mean difference [90% confidence limits]), 2 hours (+3.3% [2.7%], P = .196; +7.8% [7.4%], P = .169), and 3 hours postexposure (+3.1% [3.3%], P = .467; +0.7% [4.8%], P = .327). Salivary α-amylase concentration was elevated 15 minutes postexposure in the 1-hour (+61% [14%], P = .008) and 2-hour groups (+55% [12%], P = .013). The increase in self-reported performance readiness was higher after PBC (+2.4 [1.2] units, P = .046) in the 2-hour group and by 1.4 (1.1) units (P = .023) after 3 hours. Mental fatigue was favorably decreased 2 hours after PBC exposure (+0.5 [0.1], P = .041).

CONCLUSIONS

An acute exposure of PBC elicits potentially favorable but unclear changes in countermovement jump performance. The PBC enhances salivary α-amylase concentration and perceived performance readiness, reduces mental fatigue, and could be useful in sport-specific training or competitions.

Cryostimulation for Post-exercise Recovery in Athletes: A Consensus and Position Paper

Recovery after exercise is a crucial key in preventing muscle injuries and in speeding up the processes to return to homeostasis level. There are several ways of developing a recovery strategy with the use of different kinds of traditional and up-to-date techniques. The use of cold has traditionally been used after physical exercise for recovery purposes. In recent years, the use of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC; an extreme cold stimulation lasting 1-4 min and given in a cold room at a temperature comprised from -60 to -195°C) has been tremendously increased for such purposes. However, there are controversies about the benefits that the use of this technique may provide. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper are to describe what is whole body cryotherapy/cryostimulation, review and debate the benefits that its use may provide, present practical considerations and applications, and emphasize the need of customization depending on the context, the purpose, and the subject's characteristics. This review is written by international experts from the working group on WBC from the International Institute of Refrigeration.