Title: Aerobic Capacity and Exercise Intensity in Selected Racket Sports Author:
Ales Suchomel
Institution:
Department of Physical Education, Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic
Tel.:
+420 485 355 126
E-mail:
[email protected]
Address:
Ales Suchomel, Dept. of Physical Education, Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 461 17 Liberec 1, Czech Republic
Short professional CV: Education: 2001 - Ph.D. - Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague 2007 - Ass. Professor - Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague First-line publications: Suchomel, A. (2001). Relations between somatic characteristics and motor efficiency (low and high) in school-aged individuals. Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Gymnica, 31(2), 23-34. Suchomel, A. (2003). The biological age of prepubescent and pubescent children with low and high motor efficiency. Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 61(1), 67-77. Suchomel, A. (2005). Somatic parameters of children with low and high level of motor performance. Kinesiology, 37(2), 1-8. Suchomel, A. (2006). Tělesně nezdatné děti školního věku. (School-aged Children with Low Fitness Levels). 1st ed. Liberec : Technical University. 352 p. ISBN 80-7232-140-6. Suchomel, A., Sigmundová, D., & Frömel, K. (2008). The role of physical activity in the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the Liberec region. Human Movement, 9(1), 19-26.
Abstract: The aim of the present study is to compare the aerobic capacity of players and the exercise intensity during a singles match in selected racket sports (tennis, table tennis, badminton). Twenty-seven healthy men between the ages 18 and 30 volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were divided with regard to their racket sports into 3 samples with 9 individuals: tennis, table tennis and badminton players on the first league level (these individuals play their racket sport 5-6 times a week). All players were subjected to an aerobic capacity test (a VO2max Fitness Test) on the motorized treadmill. We measured VO2max when oxygen consumption reached a steady state despite an increase in workload. Measuring heart rate was realized with the monitors Polar RS800 during three singles matches. The samples of heart rate were stored in 1 second intervals and were transferred to the software ProTrainer 5. The results show no significant differences in functional characteristics among the players of tennis, table tennis and badminton. The best values of functional characteristics were in the badminton players: maximum oxygen consumption - VO2max [ml/kg/min] = 62.8 ± 5.5; resting heart rate - RHR [beats/min] = 48 ± 6; maximal heart rate - MaxHR [beats/min] = 193 ± 6 We found out a significant differences between heart rate responses of badminton players and players of tennis and table tennis in the mean heart rate - MeHR and the % maximal heart rate - % MaxHR at the 0.01 level of significance (K-W test, χ20.01). The highest value of mean heart rate during single matches was in badminton players. The best values of functional characteristics and significantly higher level of exercise intensity from selected racket sports were recorded in badminton players. Keywords: tennis, aerobic capacity, exercise intensity, heart rate.
INTRODUCTION Exercise intensity is the amount of physical power, expressed as a percentage of maximum, the body uses in performing an activity. There are several ways to measure exercise intensity. One common method of measurement works with the increased heart rate that occurs with exercise. The greater the intensity of the activity being performed - the higher the heart rate. This method is expressed as a percentage of maximum heart rate (% MHR). MHR is the highest beat frequency the heart will reach under exercise-induced stress (Hiilloskorpi et al., 2003; Jospin and Fayt, 2004). Heart rate monitoring during selected racket sports competition can be a sign of the quality of effort made by players, the condition of players and a useful indicator for further planning of the training process with the aim of achieving the best possible results (Djokic, 2004). The racket sports matches involve a combination of periods of maximal or near maximal work and periods of moderate and low intensity activity. Match intensity can vary considerably depending on the players´ level, style and sex (Kagaya, 1975; Docherty, 1982; Yoshida, 1995; Faude et al., 2007). PURPOSE The aim of the present study is to compare the aerobic capacity of players and the exercise intensity during a singles match in selected racket sports (tennis, table tennis, badminton). METHODS 3.1 Method of selecting subjects Twenty-seven healthy men between the ages 18 and 30 volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were divided with regard to their racket sports into 3 samples with 9 individuals: tennis, table tennis and badminton players on the first league level (these individuals play their racket sport 5-6 times a week). In table 1, characteristics (mean ± standard deviation) of age, height, weight and body fat are shown for selected samples. Table 1. Basic characteristics of selected samples Number Age [years] Height [cm] Weight [kg] Body fat [%]
Tennis 9 26.1 ± 4.9 188.8 ± 7.5 78.8 ± 7.4 13.9 ± 4.5
Table tennis 9 24.7 ± 4.6 174.1 ± 6.8 71.6 ± 5.2 12.5 ± 3.1
Badminton 9 23.1 ± 3.8 178.6 ± 6.9 73.2 ± 6.1 11.6 ± 3.8
3.2 Methods of data analysis All players were subjected to a maximal stress test according to the Bruce protocol on the motorized treadmill HP Cosmos Pulsar 4.0. We measured VO2max when oxygen consumption reached a steady state despite an increase in workload. Measuring heart rate was realized with the monitors Polar RS800 - recording rate 1 s (see Fig. 1) during three official competition matches. All data were analyzed by software Polar ProTrainer 5. This telemetric system has been previously validated (Gretebeck et al., 1991).
Fig. 1. Monitor Polar RS800 Mathematical-statistical data processing was done using the software Statistica: mean, standard deviation, Kruskal-Wallis test - chi square, 2 degrees of freedom. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 4.1 Characteristics of aerobic capacity In table 2, characteristics (mean ± standard deviation) of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), resting heart rate (RHR) and maximal heart rate (MaxHR) are shown for players of selected racket sports. Table 2. Functional characteristics of players of selected racket sports Number VO2max [ml/kg/min] RHR [beats/min] MaxHR [beats/min]
Tennis 9 60.6 ± 5.1 49 ± 5 195 ± 4
Table Tennis 9 59.2 ± 5.0 52 ± 4 196 ± 5
Badminton 9 62.8 ± 5.5 48 ± 6 193 ± 6
The results show no significant differences in functional characteristics among the players of selected racket sports. The best values of functional characteristics were in the badminton players. 4.2 Heart rate responses In Figure 2, the example of the heart responses during tennis match is shown.
Fig. 2. Variations of the heart rate during a tennis match During a table tennis match the heart rate increased as the game continued (see Fig. 3). Fig. 3. Variations of the heart rate during a table tennis match
In Figure 4, the example of the heart responses during badminton match is shown.
Fig. 4. Variations of the heart rate during a badminton match The mean heart rate (MeHR) and % MaxHR during racket sports matches are shown in table 3 (mean ± standard deviation). Table 3. Heart rate responses of players during selected racket sports matches Number MeHR [beats/min] % MaxHR [%]
Tennis 9 153 ± 16 78 ± 8
Table Tennis 9 157 ± 14 80 ± 7
Badminton 9 170 ± 11 90 ± 9
We found out a significant differences between heart rate responses of badminton players and players of tennis and table tennis in MeHR and % MaxHR at the 0.01 level of significance (KW test: 11.65 > χ2 0.01;2). The highest value of mean heart rate during single matches was in badminton players. The tennis league players´ value corresponds to results 152 ± 14 beats/min in trained persons of Hiroyuki (2008) and to mean heart rate (151 beats/min) of Smekal et al. (2001). Our mean values of league players are lower than the value 171 beats/min of Girard and Millet (2004). The table tennis league players´ value are higher than the results of Shimizu et al. (1981) in trained students (143 ± 9 beats/min). Our average values are lower than the value of 167 beats/min (Rittel and Waterloh, 1975), of the Kagaya´s (1975) values 160 to 170 beats/min and of the average values from 162 to 172 beats/min during official competition matches (Djokic, 2004). The badminton league players´ value are lower than the value of 186 beats/min of the Hughes (1995). But the average value corresponds to results 173 ± 9 beats/min in the players with international experience of Cabello and González-Badillo (2003) and Faude et al. (2007). The fact that the results partly vary in literature might have arisen from the difference in the individual endurance ability and also in the quantity of physical exercise depending on the technical level of the opponents during the match.
CONCLUSION Our study investigated the aerobic capacity of racket sports players and the heart rate responses to playing tennis, table tennis and badminton The best values of functional characteristics and significantly higher level of exercise intensity were recorded in badminton players. The results suggest that badminton is characterised by repetitive efforts of alactic nature and great intensity which are continuously performed throughout the match. This research has implication for the training of racket sports players, which should resemble match intensity. REFERENCES Bouchard, C. et al. (1999). Familial aggregation of VO 2max response to exercise training: results from the HERITAGE Family Study. J. Applied Physiol., 87, 1003–1008. Cabello, D.M. & Gonzáles-Badillo, J.J. (2003). Analysis of the characteristics of competitive badminton. Br. J. Sports Med., 37, 62-66. Djokic, Z. (2004). Heart rate monitoring of table tennis player, In A. Less, J.F. Kahn and I.W. Maynard (Eds.), Science and Racket Sports III, Routledge, New York, 21-22. Docherty D. (1982). A comparison of heart rate responses in racquet games. Br. J. Sports Med., 16, 96-100. Faude, O. et al. (2007). Physiological characteristics of badminton match play. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 100, 4, 479-485. Girard, O., & Millet, G.P. (2004). Effects of the ground surface on the physiological and technical responses in young tennis players. In: T. Reilly, M. Hughes & A. Lees (Eds). Science and racket sports III. (pp. 43-48). London: E & FN Spon. Gretebeck, R. J., Montoye, H., Bailor, D., & Montoye, A. P. (1991). Comment on heart rate recording fields studies. J. Sport Med. Phys. Fitness, 31, 629-631. Hiilloskorpi, H.K. et al. (2003). Use of heart rate to predict energy expenditure from low to high activity levels. Int. J. Sports Med., 24, 5, 332-336. Hiroyuki, Y. (2008). Exercise Intensity in Ball Games: Especially Three New Sports. Journal of Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University. Retrieved 20. 2. 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://ci.nii.ac.jp. Hughes, M.G. (1995) Physiological demands of training in elite badminton players. In: T. Reilly et al. (Eds.) Science and racket sports (pp. 32-35). London: E & F N Spon. Jospin, L. & Fayt, V. (2004). Monitoring effort during increasing levels of training exercises in table tennis, In A. Less, J.F. Kahn and I.W. Maynard (Eds.), Science and Racket Sports III, Routledge, New York, 31-36. Kagaya, H. (1975). Heart rate during playing soft tennis, table tennis and badminton. J. Physical Fitness Japan, 51, 109-11. Rittel, H.F. & Waterloh, E. (1975). Radiotelemetrie bei tennis, badminton und tisch tennis spielen. Sportarzt sportmed., 7, 144-150. Shimizu, N., Makoro, S. & Okamoto, K. (1981). Work intensity table tennis exercise as measured from heart rate variation. Bull. Univ. Osaka Pref., 33, B, 49-60. Smekal, G. et al. (2001). A physiological profile of tennis match play. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 33, 999–1005. Yoshida, H. (1995). Exercise intensity in ball games: Especially three new games. J. Tokyo Kasei Gakuin Univ., 35, 403-408.
