Leg power and stiffness in the legs in young tennis players: The relationship of speed and agility performance

INTRODUCTION AND GOAL: This study aims at showing the relationship between the leg strength and stiffness of muscles with the speed and agility performance of young tenns players. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 17 licensed sportmen and 9 lıcensed sportwomen attended this study. 17 sportmen (age: 10.76 ± 0,97 years, height: 155.3 ± 12,1 cm, weight: 44.02 ± 12,8 kg, sport age : 4.23 ± 1,3 years) and 9 sport women ( age: 11.44 ± 0,88 years, height: 158.64 ± 8,33 m, weight: 45.03 ± 7,87 kg, sport age: 4.11 ± 1,26 years). Firstly, the stiffness of muscles of these athletes is calculated with taking their jumping data. Then the tests of speed, agilty, changing direction and service performance were applied respectively. Each athlete applied the test twice and their best degrees were recorded. Between the test there were 5 minutes of relaxing periods. The results were evaluated with the SPSS data analysis program. FINDINGS: It is found that there was an important difference between the correlation of reagent power and the stiffness of muscle and the speed of changing directions, apeed, the height of jumping with these young tennis players. But there was no important difference between the reagent speed and the meet up service reaction speed (p>0,005). RESULTS: According to the results of this study, stiffness of muscles affects the exercises which is planned before just as the speed of changing direction s, speed, hight of jumping and reagent power positively. And it also affects the reagent speed and the speed of meet up service negatively. Again the reagent power affects the changing direction, height of jumping and the stiffness of muscle positively. It affects the reagent speed, reagent of meet up service and the speed negatively. Key Words: The stiffness of muscle, Leg strength, Tennis, Speed, Agility