EFFECTS OF FUNCTIONAL TRAINING ON THE HITTING QUALITY OF TENNIS PLAYERS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Functional training values the athletes’ physical activity and the integral exercise proper of the practiced sport. Tennis frequently integrates this exercise into regular training, aiming to enrich teaching. Objective: Compare the effects of functional training in daily exercise on the tennis players’ strokes based on the athletes’ performance. Methods: A research sample of 18 young male tennis players in tennis clubs were used. The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups, control and experimental. The control group received traditional physical training methods in their daily training. The experimental group had functional physical training added to their daily training. Before and after training, the ITN and functional movement screening methods were used to study the hitting quality of the tennis players. Finally, a mathematical and statistical analysis of the results ascertained in the tests was performed. Results: After 12 weeks, the mean level and accuracy of the experimental group were significantly higher (P<0.05). The control group showed a slight improvement in the mean level and ball accuracy but without statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Functional training associated with regular training positively improved the quality of hitting in tennis players. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.