Acute effects of two different tennis sessions on dorsal and lumbar spine of adult players

To evaluate dorsal and lumbar spine of expert and recreational tennis players before
(Pre) and after (Post) two different training sessions.
The sample consisted of 17 male tennis players, 9 expert and 8 recreational males,
respectively (age 21.2 ± 1.6 years). We assessed back surface by rasterstereography
Pre and Post two different training sessions both lasting 1.5 hours: a standard
training and a specific over-shoulder shots training session, respectively. Lordotic
and kiphotic angle, length, imbalance, inclination for trunk, pelvic torsion, left and
right lateral deviation, surface rotation were measured.
Tennis expertise (Expert vs Recreational) significantly affected surface rotation and
right lateral deviation (P<0.05). Trunk length was affected by Intervention (Pre vs
Post) (P<0.05). Left lateral deviation differed both for Type of Session (Session 1 vs
Session 2) and Intervention (P<0.001, P<0.05). Expert tennis players had higher
values on surface rotation and right lateral deviation, around or just above
physiological values (0-5° and 0-5 mm, respectively). Type of Session significantly
affected left lateral deviation, indicating that over-shoulder shots lead to a higher
stress for the spine; time led to a shortening effect on trunk length.
A single training session can induce acute modifications in some parameters of
dorsal and lumbar spine of players.