The effect of fatigue on proprioception in tennis player

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of fatigue on knee proprioception in tennis player. Twenty-one tennis players with an average tennis history of 3.62±2.13 years participated in the study voluntarily. Participants (mean age 24.29±2.74 years, height 1.77±.07 meters, body weight 72.54±10.52 kg, body mass index 23.20±2.72 kg/m2, flexibility values 156.52±7.60 degree, sports history year 3.62±2.13 and training per week 6.76±3.49 hours) participated in this study after obtaining the approval of the ethics committee, by filling in the consent form. After the participants' height and weight measurements were taken, hamstring flexibility measurements were completed. Afterwards, proprioception measurement was made before fatigue, and after warming up and stretching, proprioception measurement was performed after warming up. As a result of the local fatigue protocol, post-fatigue proprioception measurements were completed. While performing statistics, the analysis of variance of repeated measurements Anova test was used in proprioception measurements. Pairwise comparisons test was also used. Pearson moment correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the variables. As a result, absolute angular error (AAE) scores after warming up to 40o and 60o were found to be lower than before warming up. This clearly demonstrated the importance of warming up. When the 40o and 60o AAE scores before warming up and after fatigue were examined, it was found that the scores after fatigue were lower. Therefore, it was observed that the local fatigue given did not affect the knee joint proprioception. When the relationship between sports experience and 60oAAE after warm-up was examined, it was concluded that as sports experience increased, proprioception acuity increased after warm-up. When the relationship between flexibility and AAE scores was examined, no significant relationship was found. Key words: Proprioception, fatigue, knee