COMPARATIVE KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN SERVE AND GROUNDSTROKES BETWEEN WHEELCHAIR AND STANDING TENNIS PLAYERS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify differences in the shoulder range of motion (ROM) between wheelchair users (WU), wheelchair (WTP) and standing tennis players (TP) and differences in shoulder angles between wheelchair and standing tennis players during tennis groundstrokes and serve. 4 wheelchair users, 5 wheelchair tennis players, and 4 able-bodied tennis players served as subjects. For analysis of shoulder range of motion (ROM), internal, external and total ROM data of all subjects were collected. The tennis movements serve, backhand slice, and forehand topspin were recorded of WTP and TP. Kinematic data were collected by eight cameras and included shoulder angles of the dominant arm: anteversion, abduction and internal rotation. Statistical analysis of kinematic data showed significant differences during almost all movements between WTP and TP. Different shoulder angles and ROM might be important findings for shoulder pathology and wheelchair tennis training skills, especially flexibility training.