Comparison and analysis of the biomechanics of the lower limbs of female tennis players of different levels in foot-up serve

Zhiqiang Liang; Jinan Wu; Jiabin Yu; Shanshan Ying; Zhiyong Liu; Yu Zhang; Yaodong Gu; Jianshe Li

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1125240

Comparison and analysis of the biomechanics of the lower limbs of female tennis players of different levels in foot-up serve

Front Physiol. 2023 Feb 24:14:1125240. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1125240. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Zhiqiang Liang^{1

2

3}, Jinan Wu^{1

2}, Jiabin Yu^{1

2}, Shanshan Ying^{1

2}, Zhiyong Liu^{1

2}, Yu Zhang^{1

2}, Yaodong Gu^{1

2}, Jianshe Li^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
² Research Academy of Grand Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
³ School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine biomechanical performance of the foot-up serve (FUS) in female tennis players at different skill levels. Methods: FUS analysis was completed in the biomechanical laboratory by 32 female college tennis players at three different levels. During FUS, 3D-biomechanical data from tennis players' lower limbs were collected. One-way ANOVA was used to examine differences in kinematic and kinetic data between groups Results: Range of motion (ROM) of bilateral lower-limb joints revealed significant differences in kinematics performance during both the preparation and landing cushion phases (p < 0.05). During preparation, Level 3 was significantly longer than Level 2 (P-a = 0.042, P-b = 0.001, and P-c = 0.006). During the flight phase, significant differences between levels 1 and 3 (P-a:0.002) and levels 1 and 2 (P-c:0.000) were discovered (P-a:0.002 and P-c:0.000). There were significant height differences between levels 1 and 2 as well as between levels 1 and 3. (P-a = 0.001, P-c = 0.000). During serve preparation (P-c = 0.001) and landing, GRF's peak was significantly higher than level 3. (P-c:0.007). Significant differences were found between groups in the LLS preparation stage, with level 3 significantly higher than levels 1 and 2. (P-a = 0.000, P-b = 0.001, and P-c = 0.000); during landing, level 2 LLS was significantly higher than levels 1 and 3. (P-a = 0.000, P-b = 0.000, and P-c = 0.035). Conclusion: The range of motion of joints and the stiffness of the lower limbs have a significant impact on a tennis player's FUS performance. A larger of joint mobility and lower-limb stiffness promote better performance during the FUS preparation stage.

Keywords: biomechanics; foot-up serve; lower limbs; motion control; women’s tennis.