EFFECT OF THE MOTOR FUNCTION OF UPPER EXTREMITY ON THE VELOCITY OF TENNIS FLAT SERVE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of motor function of upper extremity on the velocity of tennis flat serve in young tennis athletes. Twenty adolescent tennis players without any shoulder injury or problems were recruited. The flat serve velocity, isokinetic strength of shoulder rotators, active shoulder joint motion and a series of physical factors were measured. Statistically significant relationships were found between serve velocity, and age, height, body weight, and circumferences of upper arm and forearm. The internal rotator strength in concentric contraction at 180°/sec isokinetic exercise, external rotator strength in eccentric contraction, and active shoulder abduction and flexion angles were also related to serve velocity. These findings may be useful in providing the basic guidelines for tennis training and evaluation.