Ingestion of Beta-alanine Effects in Well-trained Tennis Players

Ingestion of Beta-alanine Improves Neuromuscular Performance in Well-trained Tennis. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Beta-alanine is considered as ergogenic aids with good to strong evidence for improving sports performance in specific sports context scenarios. However, most of the studies has been realized in endurance, with limited evidence in intermittent sports, especially in racket sports. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of 4-weeks ingestion of beta-alanine on neuromuscular performance in well-trained tennis players.

Fourteen tennis players (23.3 ±3.7 years) between 50-250 national tennis ranking participated in this study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups that realized a neuromuscular battery after beta-alanine (4.8 gr/daily during 4-weeks) or placebo (i.e., fructose) (4.8 grams/daily during 4-weeks). Before and after the supplementation period tennis performed a neuromuscular test battery in a tennis court consisted in different test such as; serve velocity, countermovement jump, isometric handgrip strength, 10-m sprint, modified 5-0-5 agility test and repeated sprint ability. After 48 h of the realization of neuromuscular test battery, tennis players performed VO2max consumption test (i.e., treadmill).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Well-trained tennis players, between 18-35 years old (50-200 between tennis ranking)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Suffering from any chronic pathology or an injury in the month prior to the investigation.
• Intolerance to beta-alanine ingestion
• Amateur tennis players.