Padel is a complex sport within which performance relies on the interrelation of multiple factors such as physiological and physical capacities, psychological skills, and tactical and technical knowledge. Padel match involves intermittent whole-body efforts, evidenced by a large number of strokes and repeated high-intensity running actions such as accelerations, decelerations and changes of direction. Due to its recent creation, little is known about the activity and energy demands of padel match play. The purpose of the present study was to systematically review physiological demands of padel match play by assessing parameters related to external load, such as notational analysis or time-motion studies, and internal load through the analysis of physiological responses during the match. The systematic review process was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus and SportDiscus were searched using: (“padel” OR “pádel” OR “paddle tennis”). Twelve papers matched the inclusion criteria, from which four addressed internal load, six external load, and two analyzed both. A total of 203 padel players across all competition levels participated in the 12 selected studies. Study outcomes have probed prevalence of moderate physiological responses, low contribution of anaerobic glycolytic processes to supply energy, O2 not being a limiting factor, and moderate to relatively high perceived effort rate. The highest game durations were found in professional players. Work-to-rest ratios reaffirm the intermittent nature of padel. Distance covered per set and match as well as speed are reciprocally proportional to player’s standard level.

Purpose: (1) To analyze the associations between serve velocity (SV) and various single-joint upper-limb isometric force–time curve parameters, (2) to develop a prediction model based on the relationship between these variables, and (3) to determine whether these factors are capable of discriminating between tennis players with different SV performances. Method: A total of 17 high-performance tennis players performed 8 isometric tests of joints and movements included in the serve kinetic chain (wrist and elbow flexion [EF] and extension; shoulder flexion [SHF] and extension [SHE], internal [SHIR] and external rotation). Isometric force (IF), rate of force development (RFD), and impulse (IMP) at different time intervals (0–250 ms) were obtained for analysis. Results: Significant (P < .05 to P < .01) and moderate to very large correlations were found between SV and isometric force (IF), RFD and impulse (IMP) at different time intervals in all joint positions tested (except for the EF). Stepwise multiple regression analysis highlighted the importance of RFD in the SHIR from 0 to 50 milliseconds and isometric force (IF) in the SHF at 250 milliseconds on SV performance. Moreover, the discriminant analyses established SHIR RFD from 0 to 30 milliseconds as the most important factor discriminating players with different serve performances. Conclusions: Force–time parameters in upper-limb joints involved in the serve moderate to very largely influence SV. Findings suggest that the capability to develop force in short periods of time (<250 ms), especially in the shoulder joint, seems relevant to develop high SV in competition tennis players.

This study aimed to investigate the acute and delayed effects of medicine ball throws and resistance training in ball velocity and accuracy of serve, forehand and backhand in young competition tennis players. A crossover-randomized design was used with 10 competition tennis players (6 girls and 4 boys between 14 and 18 years old). The subjects performed 6 stroke test sessions, 3 for each strength protocol. The velocity and accuracy of strokes were measured before (basal situation), 3 minutes, 24 and 48 hours after the protocol. Medicine ball throws protocol was performed by accomplishing 3 sets of 6 repetitions using a 2 kg ball, throwing it at maximal speed. Resistance training protocol was performed by accomplishing 3 sets of 6 repetitions at 75% one-repetition maximum, lifting the load at maximal speed of bench press, dead lift, one hand row and half squat. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in all strokes, regarding ball velocity and accuracy after each method and each recovery time, compared to the basal situation. These results suggest that medicine ball throws and resistance training methods have no acute and delayed detrimental effects on stroke velocity and accuracy in young competition tennis players.

The main objective of this study was to analyze how professional male padel players technically-tactically behave and to whether determine if there are any differences between one game side and the other (left game side, LGS; right game side, RGS). The sample included 12.851 shots corresponding to 8 matches from the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals of the Premier Padel circuit held in 2022 where 16 different professional right-handed padel male players participated. All matches were analyzed through systematic observation using an ad-hoc instrument. Variables such as, type of strokes, outcomes, hitting zones and switching displacements, were taken into account. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) were found on forehands, backhands, backhand volleys, forehand lobs, backhand lobs, counter wall forehand, counter-lateral wall forehand and backhand, and wall descent stroke backhand. Also, significant differences were found regarding the stroke outcomes: into play (RGS 46.4%; p < 0.05); winners (LGS 2.3%; p < 0.01). Finally, significant differences were noticed between switching displacements in which the LGS players switched considerably more times than the RGS (66.7%; p < 0.001). The reported results proved that there exist differences between both game sides regarding their strokes, stroke outcomes, and switching displacements.

Background: Neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) has been defined as the exercise-induced performance decrease associated with muscular activity. Purpose: The primary aim was to identify the available evidence regarding the testing tasks used to assess NMF in the lower limbs and to determine the most commonly used test in specific sports. The secondary aim was to group the tests found according to the type of sport. Study Design: Scoping review. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, SportDiscus, and Web of Science databases. Search terms were “neuromuscular fatigue” and (“test” or “tests” or “testing task” or “task”). Studies that analyzed healthy humans, voluntary contractions, and participants under 50 years old were included. Studies in which the main focus was not NMF, the lower limbs were not analyzed, the knee joint was not involved, the pre-post analysis of fatigue was not used, or there was no sport fatigue protocol between tests were excluded. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Results: A total of 97 studies were included. Most of these included males (68.0%) and professional athletes in their samples (46.4%) . The data most commonly studied for NMF were athletes from team sports (74.2%), specifically soccer (32.0%) and rugby (18.6%). Matches and trainings sessions were the fatiguing protocols (59.8%), whereas vertical jumps (82.5%), measured by force platforms (77.5%), was the test most commonly used. The most commonly evaluated parameters were jump height (75.0%) and peak power (41.3%). Tests varied different according to the sport, and vertical jumps (77.8%), and sprints (15.3%) were the tests most commonly used for the athletes in team sports. For athletes in individual sports, vertical jumps (72.0%) and isometric knee extension/knee flexion (24.0%) were most utilized. Conclusions: Different fatigue protocols, test tasks, materials, and variables are used to assess NMF. Veritcal jump is the most commonly utilized test task for athletes of both team and individual sports. It appears necessary to choose the most appropriate test tasks according to each type of sport. Level of evidence: Level 2b

Purpose: To evaluate changes in physical performance indicators after executing a flywheel or machine-based neuromuscular training program in young female tennis players. Methods: Twenty-four players were divided into a machine-based group (MG), flywheel group (FG), and control group. Countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint time (5, 10, and 15 m), change-of-direction (COD) performance (right and left), medicine-ball throws (overhead, forehand, and backhand), and serve velocity were included as tests at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Results: Both MG and FG largely improved from baseline to weeks 4 and 8 of training in CMJ (11.6, 10.6%; effect size [ES] = 1.24, 1.95). Also, sprint time 5 m and 10 m, COD performance-right, and COD performance-left improved moderately to very largely at week 4 in MG (−5.0% to −6.2%; ES = −1.79 to −4.19) and FG (−2.9% to −5.1%; ES = −1.13 to −1.64), respectively. Regarding medicine-ball throw, only FG improved moderately to very largely from weeks 4 to 8 in overhead (9.3%; ES = 1.46), forehand (8.0%; ES = 1.08), and backhand (6.1%; ES = 1.15). Serve velocity improved moderately from weeks 4 to 8 in MG (5.8%; ES = 0.87). Conclusions: Four weeks of the tested programs seem sufficient to improve physical determinants in young female participants. Greater improvements in CMJ and medicine-ball throw following flywheel neuromuscular training indicate the importance of including exercises that emphasize the stretch-shortening cycle and involve the entire kinetic chain. Performing the same intervention with no load adjustments may stall or even decrease performance in some parameters from weeks 4 to 8.