Tennis: A Physiological Profile during Match Play

Abstract

Heart rate (HR), hematocrit, hemoglobin, blood glucose, and plasma concentrations of lactate, cortisol, and testosterone were monitored in 10 male subjects (Division I, 20.3 ± 2.5 yrs, V̇O₂max: 58.5 ± 9.4 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1) during singles tennis and a treadmill test. During the on-court session, HR was 144.6 ± 13.2 beats · min^-1 for the 85 min of play. Plasma lactate rose 50% from a post-warmup value of 1.6 ± 0.6 mmol · 1^-1 to 2.3 ± 1.2 mmol · 1^-1 during play (p > 0.05). Blood glucose slightly decreased (8%, p > 0.05) from a pre-exercise value of 4.6 ± 0.8 mmol · 1^-1 as a result of the 10-min warmup. This was followed by a 23% rise (p < 0.05) from 4.2 ± 1.0 mmol · 1^-1 to 5.2 ± 0.6 mmol·1^-1 , measured after the first 30 min of play. Blood glucose subsequently remained steady at slightly above the pre-exercise value. Plasma cortisol rose (9%, p > 0.05) during the warmup and subsequently decreased (p < 0.05) from a post-warmup value of 558.2 ± 285.2 nmol · 1^-1 to 337.1 ± 173.3 nmol · 1^-1 (a 40% decrease), and remained decreased during recovery. Plasma testosterone rose 22% (p < 0.05) from pre-exercise to recovery (13.5 ± 3.8 nmol · 1^-1 and 16.5 ± 2.6 nmol · 1^-1, respectively). Although tennis is characterized by periods of high-intensity exercise, the overall metabolic response resembles prolonged moderate-intensity exercise.

Key words

Heart rate - blood glucose - plasma lactate - plasma cortisol - plasma testosterone