The Relationship Between Scapular Endurance, Core Endurance, and Functional Performance in Adolescent Tennis Players

Investigation of the Relationship Between Scapular Endurance, Core Endurance, and Upper Extremity Functional Performance in Adolescent Tennis Players

This study aims to examine the relationship between scapular endurance, core endurance, and upper extremity performance in adolescent tennis players. The hypothesis of this study is that better scapular/core endurance in adolescent tennis players is associated with better upper extremity performance. Establishing this relationship will contribute to identifying the exercise training necessary to improve upper extremity performance in tennis players.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Athletic Injuries; Sports Physical Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Assessment of scapular endurance; Diagnostic test: Prone Bridge Test; Diagnostic test: Side Bridge Test; Diagnostic test: Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test; Diagnostic test: Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test

Detailed Description

Tennis is a sport characterized by coordinated, repetitive, and powerful movements along the kinetic chain. Being both overhead and rotational, achieving a good shot in tennis involves transferring high forces and energy from the lower extremities to the upper extremities through the trunk. In this context, core muscles play a crucial role in athletic performance by stabilizing the shoulder girdle, pelvis, and spine, acting as a pivot point for extremity movements. Therefore, good core strength is essential during a stroke. Additionally, as the acceleration of the ball is influenced by both maximum external and internal rotation of the shoulder, tennis players require good shoulder mobility and stability. In this regard, the scapula in the shoulder girdle provides a stable foundation for the glenohumeral mobility necessary for the shot. Both the core and scapular regions serve as pivot points for upper extremity functional activities. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between scapular endurance, core endurance, and upper extremity performance in adolescent tennis players. The hypothesis of this study is that better scapular/core endurance in adolescent tennis players is associated with better upper extremity performance. Establishing this relationship will contribute to identifying the exercise training necessary to improve upper extremity performance in tennis players.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 35

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Elif AYGUN POLAT, PhD; Phone Number: 04522265248; Email: fzteapolat@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ordu, Turkey, 52200
    • Ordu University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adolescent tennis players

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescent tennis players

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes with a history of musculoskeletal injury or surgery in the last year that would prevent the tests from being performed
• Athletes who feel pain in the trunk and lower extremities during the tests

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Other; adolescent tennis player

Diagnostic test: Assessment of scapular endurance; For the assessment of scapular endurance, participants will be instructed to bend their arms and elbows while keeping a wooden rod placed between their elbows, pull a spring dynamometer placed between thei; Diagnostic test: Prone Bridge Test; For the "Prone Bridge Test," participants will be instructed to lie face down with their hands and feet shoulder-width apart and then raise their bodies off the ground by lifting themselves up on their hands, forearms, and toes. A stopwa; Diagnostic test: Side Bridge Test; For the "Side Bridge Test," participants will be asked to lie on their right side, supporting themselves on their forearm and elbow, and lift themselves off the ground. A stopwatch will be started, and the test will be terminated if there is any deviation from the position. The elapsed time will be recorded in seconds. The test will then be repeated on the left side.; Diagnostic test: Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test; For the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test, participants will be asked to assume a push-up position on a flat surface with their hands placed on two parallel lines drawn 90 cm apart. They will then be instructed to touch one hand to the other hand's side as many times as possible within 15 seconds. The test will be repeated three times, and the average of the scores will be calculated.; Diagnostic test: Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test; For the "Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test," participants will be asked to sit on the ground with their back, shoulders, and head against the wall. Holding a 2 kg medicine ball with both hands, they will start with their elbows bent and arms at their sides, then extend their elbows to throw the ball forward as far as possible. The distance between the wall and the point where the ball lands will be recorded. The test will be performed three times, and the average will be calculated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prone Bridge Test	For the measurement of core endurance, Prone Bridge Test will be applied.For the "Prone Bridge Test," participants will be instructed to lie face down with their hands and feet shoulder-width apart and then raise their bodies off the ground by lifting themselves up on their hands, forearms, and toes. A stopwatch is started, and the test is terminated if there is any deviation from the proper position. The elapsed time is recorded in seconds.	first day, in an average of one hour
Side Bridge Test	For the measurement of core endurance, Side Bridge Test will be applied. For the "Side Bridge Test," participants will be asked to lie on their right side, supporting themselves on their forearm and elbow, and lift themselves off the ground. A stopwatch will be started, and the test will be terminated if there is any deviation from the position. The elapsed time will be recorded in seconds. The test will then be repeated on the left side.	first day, in an average of one hour
Scapular Endurance Values	For the assessment of scapular endurance, participants will be instructed to bend their arms and elbows while keeping a wooden rod placed between their elbows, pull a spring dynamometer placed between their hands without dropping the wooden rod, and maintain this position. A stopwatch will be started, and the elapsed time will be recorded in seconds.	first day, in an average of one hour
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test	For the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test, participants will be asked to assume a push-up position on a flat surface with their hands placed on two parallel lines drawn 90 cm apart. They will then be instructed to touch one hand to the other hand's side as many times as possible within 15 seconds. The test will be repeated three times, and the average of the scores will be calculated.	first day, in an average of one hour
Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test	For the "Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test," participants will be asked to sit on the ground with their back, shoulders, and head against the wall. Holding a 2 kg medicine ball with both hands, they will start with their elbows bent and arms at their sides, then extend their elbows to throw the ball forward as far as possible. The distance between the wall and the point where the ball lands will be recorded. The test will be performed three times, and the average will be calculated.	first day, in an average of one hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: T.C. ORDU ÜNİVERSİTESİ
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sevim Beyza OLMEZ, PhD, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Üniversitesi; Study Director: Zeynep Hazar, Prof, Gazi University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 4, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 4, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: core endurance; scapular endurance; adolescent tennis player; upper extremity functional performance
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Athletic Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: ODUSBFFTR-ELIFAYGUNPOLAT-002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: There is not a plan to make individual participant data available.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No