The Effect of a Neuromuscular vs. Dynamic Warm-up on Physical Performance in Young Tennis Players

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2020-10, Vol.34 (10), p.2776-2784
• Main Authors: Fernandez-Fernandez, Jaime, García-Tormo, Vicente, Santos-Rosa, Francisco Javier, Teixeira, Anderson Santiago, Nakamura, Fábio Yuzo, Granacher, Urs, Sanz-Rivas, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Athletes; Athletic Performance; Humans; Male; Muscle Strength; Muscular system; Nervous system; Range of Motion, Articular; Shoulder; Shoulder - physiology; Strength training; Tennis; Warm-Up Exercise
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003703

ABSTRACTFernandez-Fernandez, J, García-Tormo, V, Santos-Rosa, FJ, Teixeira, AS, Nakamura, FY, Granacher, U, and Sanz-Rivas, D. The effect of a neuromuscular vs. dynamic warm-up on physical performance in young tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 34(10)2776–2784, 2020—The aim of this study was to examine performance-enhancing (i.e., training) effects of a neuromuscular warm-up (NWU) compared with a dynamic WU (DWU) in young tennis players. Twenty-eight well-trained male tennis players with a mean age of 15.09 ± 1.16 years participated in this study and were assigned to either a training group performing NWU (n = 14), or a group that followed DWU (n = 15) before tennis-specific training, for 8 weeks. Pretest and posttest includedspeed (5, 10, and 20 m); modified 5-0-5 change of direction (COD) test; bilateral/unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ); 2 kg overhead, forehand, and backhand-side medicine ball throw performance (MBT); serve velocity, and shoulder strength and range-of-motion (ROM) performance (i.e., internal [IR]/external [ER] rotation). Results showed that both groups, NWU and DWU, significantly improved their sprint performances (5–20 m; [p < 0.05; d = 0.83–1.32]), CMJ (bilateral and unilateral [dominant side] [p < 0.005; d = 1.27–1.59]), overhead MBT (p = 0.014; d = 1.02), and some shoulder strength (i.e., IR dominant side [D], ER D, ER/IR ratio [p < 0.05; d = 0.86–1.59]) and ROM (i.e., ER D, total ROM D [p < 0.05; d = 0.80–1.02]) values. However, the interaction effects revealed that NWU compared with DWU produced greater performance gains in most of the analyzed parameters (i.e., 5–10 m sprint, CMJ, overhead MBT, serve speed). The inclusion of an NWU characterized by a relatively low volume (∼20–35 minutes), including general mobility, core, and shoulder strength exercises, combined with neuromuscular-related exercises (e.g., plyometric and acceleration/deceleration/COD drills), can be recommended to obtain positive effects in tennis performance-related variables.