Various aspects of upper-limb muscle strength and tennis performance: A comparative study of U12 and U14 female tennis players
- 1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomza, Łomża, Poland
- 2Faculty of Health Sciences and Physical Education, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
- 3Department of Gymnastics and Dance, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between muscle strength and tennis performance, assessed using the International Tennis Number (ITN) on-court test, operationalized as point-based outcomes (total points and subcomponent points), in young female tennis players aged under 12 (U12) and under 14 (U14). Thirty-three players underwent a comprehensive evaluation including ITN testing, general strength tests (handgrip strength, flexed arm hang, and tennis-ball throw), isometric upper-limb muscle strength, and sense of force assessment. Results demonstrated significantly higher ITN scores and muscle strength in the U14 group, with differences largely attributable to body size and training experience. Correlation analyses revealed age-specific patterns: in U12 players, ITN scores were associated primarily with general strength measures, whereas in U14 players, they were more strongly linked to joint-specific upper-limb strength and neuromuscular characteristics. Sense of force did not differ between groups, though correlations with ITN varied depending on age and joint function. These findings suggest that, in this sample, performance in younger players was more closely associated with general strength measures, whereas in older players it was more closely associated with joint-specific upper-limb strength.
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BibTeX
@article{waldzinski2026various,
title = {{Various aspects of upper-limb muscle strength and tennis performance: A comparative study of U12 and U14 female tennis players}},
author = {Tomasz Waldziński and Aleksandra Durzyńska and Bartłomiej Niespodziński and Jan Mieszkowski and Ewa Waldzińska and Andrzej Kochanowicz},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0362183},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0362183},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Various aspects of upper-limb muscle strength and tennis performance: A comparative study of U12 and U14 female tennis players
AU - Tomasz Waldziński
AU - Aleksandra Durzyńska
AU - Bartłomiej Niespodziński
AU - Jan Mieszkowski
AU - Ewa Waldzińska
AU - Andrzej Kochanowicz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0362183
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0362183
AB - This study investigated the relationship between muscle strength and tennis performance, assessed using the International Tennis Number (ITN) on-court test, operationalized as point-based outcomes (total points and subcomponent points), in young female tennis players aged under 12 (U12) and under 14 (U14). Thirty-three players underwent a comprehensive evaluation including ITN testing, general strength tests (handgrip strength, flexed arm hang, and tennis-ball throw), isometric upper-limb muscle strength, and sense of force assessment. Results demonstrated significantly higher ITN scores and muscle strength in the U14 group, with differences largely attributable to body size and training experience. Correlation analyses revealed age-specific patterns: in U12 players, ITN scores were associated primarily with general strength measures, whereas in U14 players, they were more strongly linked to joint-specific upper-limb strength and neuromuscular characteristics. Sense of force did not differ between groups, though correlations with ITN varied depending on age and joint function. These findings suggest that, in this sample, performance in younger players was more closely associated with general strength measures, whereas in older players it was more closely associated with joint-specific upper-limb strength.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -