The fluid replacement needs of young tennis players : implications for tennis coaches.
Date
1993
Authors
Kavasis, Kostas.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study aimed to assess selected physiological, osmoregulatory and
thermoregulatory responses to tennis play in children, Twenty-four young
male tennis players (X age; 13.3+ 1.31 years) were stndied while playing for
90 min under warm environmental conditions (WBGT index= 13-19). Ad
libitum consumption of pure water was permitted.
Questionnaires were used in order to elicit information regarding the health
status, degree of aeelimatizationnnd pre-match trait and state anxiety of the
subjects. The physiological variables assessed. included pre- and post-match
rectal temperature (T), heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (02)
during the match. The biochemical observations included pre- and postmatch
blood glucose, haematoerit (Ret), haemoglobin (lIb), plasma electrolyte
(Na", Cl', K+, Mg++) and total plasma protein (TPP) concentrations.
The findings )q~ed that the young tennis players investigated in this study
experienced, ~de!'ate levels of pre-competitive trait and state amdety. The
estimated nie.m exercise intensity of 50-55% of VOzmax for a duration of 90
min resulted. in a Tre increase of 0.73 •C. Mean percentage dehydration was
0.MO+O.25. Plasma volume (PV) changes were insignificant and were
positively related to TPP changes. Mean plasma. Na" and CI- concentrations
increased by 0.88 mmol.r" and 2.2 mmol.r:' respectively. The subjects' mean
H... response (145 bpm) of a subset or the sample(n=13) and estimated VOz
(21.38 ml.kg-l.min-~ represented a 55% of the age adjusted HRmax reserve
and approximately a 50-55% of V02 max respectively. The time spent within
the target heart rate range (60-85% HR. max reserve) comprised only 33% of
the match duration. Mean energy expenditure was estimated to be 1772 KJ
dUl'ing the 90 min period.
Itwas calculated that in order to prevent harmful levels of dehydration under
warm environmental conditions and at an exercise intensity of tennis play of
approximately 55% of the age adjusted HR max reserve or 50-55% of V02
max, consumption of 4.44-6.81 mI.Kg-1.br-1 or 200-360 ml.hr" of water is
recommended in young tennis players possessing a body mass of 45-53 Kg.
The precise quantity was concluded to be a function of the mass and exercise
intensity of the subjects and the environmental heat stress index during play.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Education,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
in fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master in Education
Keywords
Tennis for children., Dehydration in children., Fluid therapy for children., Exercise for children -- Physiological aspects.