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| Research Title: |
Lower trunk muscle activity during the tennis serve |
| Type of Research: |
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| Category: |
Conditioning
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| Keywords: |
Abdominal
Muscle
Tennis
Lower Trunk, Lower Back, Tennis Serve
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| Author(s): |
JW Chow, JH Shim, YT Lim |
| Author(s) Bio Box: |
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| Release Date: |
01 May 2006 |
| Research Summary/Text: |
Prior electromyographic (EMG) analyses of the tennis serve have focused on the muscles in the hitting arm and shoulder region so there is limited data on the activity of the lower trunk muscles. It was thought that the activation patterns of lower trunk muscles during different tennis serves would also differ because the racket movement pattern and ball contact location relative to the body are different. Average EMG levels during each phase of a tennis serve for each muscle were analysed.
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| Research Objectives: |
This study compared the EMG activity of selected abdominal and low back muscles during three types of tennis serves – flat (minimum spin), topspin, and slice (sidespin) serves. Co-activation and bilateral differences in muscle activation were also examined.
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| Research Outcomes: |
No major differences in muscle activation pattern were found across different serve types. Bilateral differences in muscle activation were more pronounced in the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles than in the internal oblique and lumbar erector spinae muscles.
The abdominal muscles were more active in the topspin than in the other two types of serves during the upward swing of the racket. A significant amount of abdominal/low back and bilateral co-activation was observed during certain phases of the serve. The co-activation of lower trunk muscles may help to stabilise the lumbar spine during the arch back and forward swing phases of the serve.
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| Research Implications: |
The heavy involvement of lower trunk muscles in the tennis reinforces the importance of abdominal and low back exercises in the strength and rehabilitation programs designed for tennis players, regardless of type of serve employed.
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| Availability of Full Research Paper: |
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