Effects of sports drinks on the maintenance of physical performance during 3 tennis matches: a randomized controlled study

Thibault Brink-Elfegoun, Sébastien Ratel, Pierre-Marie Leprêtre, Lore Metz, Gael Ennequin, Eric Doré, Vincent Martin, David Bishop, Nicolas Aubineau, Jean-François Lescuyer, Martine Duclos, Pascal Sirvent, Sébastien L Peltier, Thibault Brink-Elfegoun, Sébastien Ratel, Pierre-Marie Leprêtre, Lore Metz, Gael Ennequin, Eric Doré, Vincent Martin, David Bishop, Nicolas Aubineau, Jean-François Lescuyer, Martine Duclos, Pascal Sirvent, Sébastien L Peltier

Abstract

Background: Tennis tournaments often involve playing several consecutive matches interspersed with short periods of recovery.

Objective: The objective of this study was firstly to assess the impact of several successive tennis matches on the physical performance of competitive players and secondly to evaluate the potential of sports drinks to minimize the fatigue induced by repeated matches.

Methods: This was a crossover, randomized controlled study. Eight male regionally-ranked tennis players participated in this study. Players underwent a series of physical tests to assess their strength, speed, power and endurance following the completion of three tennis matches each of two hours duration played over three consecutive half-days (1.5 day period for each condition). In the first condition the players consumed a sports drink before, during and after each match; in the second, they drank an identical volume of placebo water. The results obtained were compared with the third 'rest' condition in which the subjects did not play any tennis. Main outcomes measured were maximal isometric strength and fatigability of knee and elbow extensors, 20-m sprint speed, jumping height, specific repeated sprint ability test and hand grip strength.

Results: The physical test results for the lower limbs showed no significant differences between the three conditions. Conversely, on the upper limbs the EMG data showed greater fatigue of the triceps brachii in the placebo condition compared to the rest condition, while the ingestion of sports drinks attenuated this fatigue.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated for the first time that, when tennis players are adequately hydrated and ingest balanced meals between matches, then no large drop in physical performance is observed even during consecutive competitive matches.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01353872.

Keywords: Fatigue; Nutrition; Performance; Sports drinks; Tennis.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental design and flow diagram of subjects’ passage through the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean (±SD) isometric hand grip strength with the dominant hand in the 3 conditions (CON, PLA and SPD). Inter-group analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis; no statistical difference was found.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean (±SD) jump height for the squat (SJ) and countermovement (CMJ) jumps in the 3 conditions (CON, PLA and SPD). For SJ and CMJ, inter-group analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis; no statistical differences were found.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Average (±SD) time spent to cover 5-, 5 to 20- and 20-m sprint values for the 3 conditions (CON, PLA and SPD). Inter-group analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis; no statistical difference was found.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Repeated sprint best time and fatigue index. Average (±SD) best performance for the 3 x 8.23 m repeated sprints in the 3 conditions (CON, PLA and SPD) (Panel A). Mean (±SD) fatigue index in the 3 conditions (Panel B). Fatigue index was calculated by the percent decrease in time between the fastest and the slowest sprints. Inter-group analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis; no statistically difference was found.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mean (±SD) isometric maximal voluntary contraction torque of knee extensors (KE MVC Torque, Panel A) and of elbow extensors (EE MVC Torque, Panel B) in the 3 conditions (CON, PLA and SPD). For KE MVC Torque and EE MVC Torque, inter-group analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis; no statistical differences were found.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Time course of root mean square (RMS) values (expressed as a percentage of the maximal RMS of the best MVC trial) of thetriceps brachiimuscle (lateral head) throughout the 90-sec time trial. Results are expressed as mean values ± SD in the three conditions (CON, PLA and SPD). Two-way ANOVA was used (time and condition); time effect: p < 0.001, condition x time effect: p = 0.0167. Bonferroni post hoc analysis showed significant difference between PLA and SPD for time 30-, 50- and 60-sec (p < 0.05). Tendencies were observed for time 40-sec (p = 0.07), 80-sec (p = 0.08) and 90-sec (p = 0.07).

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