The effect of PNF exercises applied to athletes aged 18-22 in tennis on ITN degrees

The principal objective of research in the field of movement and training science is to analyse and enhance the performance of athletes. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in interest in exercises, coupled with a growing awareness of the significance of minor performance discrepancies between athletes. This has prompted numerous researchers to delve into the potential benefits of PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) exercises on athletic performance. This thesis investigates the effects of PNF exercises on the ITN (International Tennis Number) of athletes aged 18-22 years. A total of 20 athletes at the beginner level were selected for the study, with 10 assigned to the experimental group and 10 to the control group. The experimental and control groups were balanced with respect to gender, with equal numbers of male and female athletes in each. The experimental group was subjected to PNF exercises for a period of 12 weeks, after which the results were compared with those of the control group. The data were analysed using the statistical software packages SPSS and JASP. The findings indicated that PNF exercises led to notable enhancements in the technical abilities of tennis players, particularly in the areas of serve, forehand, and backhand. The experimental group exhibited a more pronounced improvement in the PNF exercise process compared to the control group. It was established that PNF exercises had a favourable impact on tennis performance, enhancing the proficiency of athletes in fundamental tennis skills. These findings imply that PNF exercises can be employed as an efficacious pre-training warm-up strategy for sports such as tennis that necessitate technical abilities. Future research may further investigate the effects of PNF exercises on athletes of varying age groups and experience levels. Keywords: PNF, Tennis, ITN, Exercises