Yesterday, we were presenting an
oral communication in Barcelona (Spain) in the 18th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. The abstract of the communication can be
found in the ECSS Congress Search Engine clicking here. Also, if you prefer,
you can read it afterwards:
BODY COMPOSITION IN TENNIS PLAYERS AND MAXIMAL
OXYGEN INTAKE: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY WITH CHILDREN
Rey-López, JP.1,
Berdejo-del-Fresno D.2, Santín-Medeiros F.3, Moraes, AC.1, Barbosa de Carvalho,
H.1
1: Faculty of Medicine USP (Sao Paulo, Brasil), 2: The Football Association (England), 3: INEF (León, Spain).
Introduction
Tennis is an anaerobic predominant
activity requiring high levels of aerobic conditioning to avoid fatigue and aid
in recovery between points. Body composition is often measured in young tennis players but it is unclear if it
is a useful predictor of a better cardiorespiratory fitness. The aim of this
study is to examine the association between: I) Anthropometric measures and
maximal oxygen intake (VO2max); II) Dual x- ray absorptiometry (DXA) and
VO2max.
Methods
7
children (3 boys and 4 girls, age = 10.83 ± 0.39) from the high-performance
tennis center from the Aragon Tennis Federation (Spain) were measured twice
during a whole season (baseline-10 months later) (Berdejo-del-Fresno et al.
2010). Body composition (whole lean, bone and fat mass) by DXA (Explorer,
Hologic Corp.) and by anthropometry (height, weight, waist circumference).
VO2max was estimated by Leger et al. (1984) using the 20 meter shuttle run test.
A linear regression analysis was performed (adjusting by age) between baseline
body composition and VO2max at the end of the season. A significance level was
considered when p values were <0.05. Statistical analyses were performed
using STATA 12.1.
Results
No
significant mean differences in VO2max (ml/kg/min) were found during the season
(baseline: 54±3, 10months: 55±3). In the regression model, body composition at
baseline by DXA was not statistically associated with VO2max values at the end
of the season: Standardized β (95% CI): 0.56 (-0.28-1.19); -0.55 (-1.02-0.24);
0.46 (-1.60-9.24) for lean mass, fat mass and bone mass respectively.
Similarly, anthropometric measurements were no associated with VO2max values. β
(95% CI): -0.27 (-0.67-0.28); -0.34 (-63,4-25,7); -0.05 (-0.60-0.57) for
weight, height and waist circumference respectively.
Discussion
Our
results show that in children who regularly train for competitive reasons (our
sample around 12 hours per week) body composition is not a predictor of VO2max
changes during a whole season. Therefore, we suggest that in pubescent tennis
players changes in VO2max are more likely due to hematological variables
(Hemoglobin, Hematocrit changes) as has been found in soccer players (Hansen et
al. 2004). In summary, in competitive tennis children players’ body composition
analyses are not justified as a way to predict aerobic performance.
Nonetheless, the study of body composition in athletes by DXA should be
promoted to monitor changes in bone mass during growing years.
References
1) Berdejo-del-Fresno
D, Vicente-Rodríguez G, González-Ravé JM, Moreno LA, Rey-López JP. (2010). J
Hum Sport Exerc, 5, 250-264.
2)
Leger
L, Lambert J, Goulet A, Rowan C, Dinelle Y. (1984) Can J Appl Sport Sci, 9,
64-69.
3) Hansen L, Klausen K. (2004) J Sports
Med Phys Fitness. 44:219-223.
If you wish to know more about body composition and fitness level in young
tennis players you can read my MPhil in Sport Performance dissertation:
“Anthropometric and physical condition changes in season for talented tennis
players” that was published in the book:
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