The Influence of Maturity Status on the Development of Neuromuscular Performance in the Lower Body After One Season in Adolescent Tennis Players.

Abstract: Baiget, E, Canós-Portalés, J, Martínez-Gallego, R, Corbi, F, and Fernandez-Fernandez, J. The influence of maturity status on the development of neuromuscular performance in the lower body after 1 season in adolescent tennis players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of biologic maturation on lower body neuromuscular performance over the course of a competitive tennis season in young tennis players. Eighty junior male and female tennis players were divided into Pre-Peak Height Velocity (PHV) (n = 36), Circa-PHV (n = 25), and Post-PHV (n = 19). Players were tested in 2 occasions, separated by 12 months, including speed (5, 10, and 20 m linear sprint), change of direction (CoD), and bilateral/unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ). Group-by-time interactions were found in biometric and maturational parameters (p = 0.031 to <0.001). All maturational groups increased their height and body mass (BM) (p < 0.01 to 0.001), while only Circa- and Post-PHV groups increased their BM index (p < 0.001 and 0.007). Within-group improvements from pre-to post-test were found in bilateral (p = 0.002 to 0.006) and dominant unilateral (p < 0.001 to 0.032) CMJ in all groups, while 10-m (p = 0.027) linear sprint and dominant and nondominant CoD only improved in the Post-PHV group (p = 0.03 to 0.008). No group-by-time interactions were found in any neuromuscular measure. In conclusion, maturation status did not significantly affect the neuromuscular performance improvement over a season in neuromuscular parameters of adolescent tennis players, suggesting that it is not only important to establish the maturation stage when working with these athletes, but also the need of including specific training based on biologic maturation status.