UH-56 The Impact of Upper Extremity Injury, Playing Experience, and Bilateral Deficit on Performance in the Non-Dominant Tennis Shot

Background: Tennis players heavily rely on their lumbar pelvic hip complex (LPHC) and upper extremity to generate this power through the shot, especially on the non-dominant side where power output is naturally reduced. Top tennis players are the ones who can maximize their physical attributes while minimizing the effects that injury has on their ability to generate power. Additionally, injury in the upper extremity affects the player’s core stability and therefore their ability to generate rotational power through the shot. Discrepancies in power between the dominant and non-dominant side can lead to a bilateral deficit which occurs when the unilateral limb is stronger than the bilateral limbs. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to look at how previous upper extremity injury, playing experience and bilateral deficit of the upper body affects performance in the non-dominant tennis shot. Methods: The sample will be made up of four groups consisting of the following: collegiate female tennis players with previous LPHC or upper extremity injury, collegiate female tennis players without previous injury, active individuals with previous LPHC or upper extremity injury, and active individuals without previous injury. Previous injury must have occurred within the past 3 years to be considered. Active individuals must participate in moderate to vigorous intensity activity for at least 25 minutes, 3 days a week for a total of 75 minutes. The seated medicine ball throw test will measure power and bilateral deficit. Participants will perform the test in two ways: throwing with one arm (three trials each side) and throwing with both arms (three trials). The average distance for each method will be calculated and analyzed. Tennis shot performance will be measured in the non-dominant shot using a radar gun where participants will complete five trials with the average velocity of the middle three trials being taken. A linear regression will be used to assess the impact LPHC and upper extremity injury, tennis experience and bilateral deficit has on non-dominant tennis shot performance. Expected Results and Conclusion: The groups that have suffered from injury and who do not have any tennis experience will have reduced power in the one-arm medicine ball throw as well as reduced average velocity in their tennis shot performance indicated the impact of a bilateral deficit on non-dominant tennis shot performance. The findings from this study will help sports medicine professionals develop training and rehabilitation programs to improve the deficit in power caused by previous injury. This will therefore benefit their tennis performance.