The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of shoulder isokinetic peak strength and change percentage between elite and general female tennis player. Eighteen female collegiate tennis players volunteered and divided into elite tennis players (EP, 9 players, accuracy scores=71.6±7.2 points) and general tennis players (GP, 9 players, accuracy scores=50.9±5.6 points) by the performance of serve and ground stroke accuracy. Shoulder isokinetic strength test was performed by the Biodex S4 dynamometer in dominant shoulder flexion/extension, shoulder 90° abduction external/internal rotation with three different angular velocities. The tennis specific performance was evaluated by the position of flat serve and the depth of forehand strike. Independent t-tests were used to analyze the different of shoulder isokinetic peak strength and change percentage at each angular velocity between groups. Result showed that: 1) No significant differences were found in shoulder isokinetic peak strength between groups in each testing movement; 2) EP showed significant smaller peak strength change percentage in shoulder flexion/extension at 240 °/s to 300°/s than GP (t=2.35 & 2.23, p<.05). This study demonstrated that shoulder peak strength is not the only factor that influent the tennis performance, but long-term regular tennis training might cause benefit adaptation for elite tennis players. In addition, significant better change percentage of the peak strength during medium to high angular velocity which found in elite tennis players also represented that tennis training should focus on the high velocity strength profile to improve the stability during speedy shoulder movement and overall on-court performance.
The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of shoulder isokinetic peak strength and change percentage between elite and general female tennis player. Eighteen female collegiate tennis players volunteered and divided into elite tennis players (EP, 9 players, accuracy scores=71.6±7.2 points) and general tennis players (GP, 9 players, accuracy scores=50.9±5.6 points) by the performance of serve and ground stroke accuracy. Shoulder isokinetic strength test was performed by the Biodex S4 dynamometer in dominant shoulder flexion/extension, shoulder 90° abduction external/internal rotation with three different angular velocities. The tennis specific performance was evaluated by the position of flat serve and the depth of forehand strike. Independent t-tests were used to analyze the different of shoulder isokinetic peak strength and change percentage at each angular velocity between groups. Result showed that: 1) No significant differences were found in shoulder isokinetic peak strength between groups in each testing movement; 2) EP showed significant smaller peak strength change percentage in shoulder flexion/extension at 240 °/s to 300°/s than GP (t=2.35 & 2.23, p<.05). This study demonstrated that shoulder peak strength is not the only factor that influent the tennis performance, but long-term regular tennis training might cause benefit adaptation for elite tennis players. In addition, significant better change percentage of the peak strength during medium to high angular velocity which found in elite tennis players also represented that tennis training should focus on the high velocity strength profile to improve the stability during speedy shoulder movement and overall on-court performance.