The effect of a prolonged tennis serve game on shoulder function, speed and precision

Due to the constant high physical strain on tennis players during a match, the effect of a prolonged serve game on torque, power and work of the shoulder external and internal rotations, as well as on serve speed and precision, was investigated. Eighteen male competitive tennis players performed shoulder external and internal rotations (90º of abduction) at 180 and 300º/s on an isokinetic dynamometer before and after 12 points with one flat serve plus forehands and simulated backhands. When comparing pre and post moments, torque and power decreased in external (0.41 ± 0.07 vs 0.39 ± 0.06 N.m/kg and 71.1 ± 27.3 vs 59.7 ± 27.1 W) and internal (0.54 ± 0.10 vs 0.50 ± 0.13 N.m/kg and 91.7 ± 30.7 vs 80.1 ± 38.1 W) rotations at 300º/s, with p ≤ 0.05. Serve speed decreased after the fifth and sixth point (142.0 ± 20.1 vs 132.5 ± 15.3 km/h) and between clusters 1–6 and 7–12 (141.7 ± 15.5 vs 134.9 ± 12.4 km/h), with p ≤ 0.01. Serve precision decreased at the fifth and eighth points, with the highest score recorded at the end of the game. Training should focus on improving players ability to maintain performance during consecutive points, enhancing technical proficiency.