Abstract
M.Tech.
This study was conducted to determine whether Chiropractic treatment was beneficial in
improving a male tennis player’s serve speed.
Thirty participants were recruited and placed into a single group. Participants were
between the ages of 18 and 40 years and selected based on the inclusion criteria being
met. Participants had to be injury-free at the time of the research study and fall within a
specified skill level (Provincial colours must have been attained at some stage in the
participants tennis career).
The participants were treated six times over a 3-week period and fifteen serve speed
measurements were taken before the first consultation, and following the third and six
consultations. A full case history, full physical examination, cervical spine regional
examination and shoulder regional examination were conducted at the first consultation to
locate joint restrictions and myofascial trigger points in the associated musculature of
these areas. Diversified Chiropractic techniques were employed in the treatment of any
restrictions found and trigger points were treated using either dry needling or ischaemic
compression techniques.
The results were interpreted by an outsourced statistician and the data was analysed using
the ANOVA model and a Box Cox transformation was applied to transform the scale to
normality. This yielded data onto which a parametric approach could be applied. According
to the analysis, the treatment applied to the participants produced significant increases in
their serve speed over the three sessions, although some increases were more prominent
than others.
This study concluded that Chiropractic treatment was effective in increasing the serve
speed of a male tennis player and the study provides evidence that the effects of
Chiropractic treatment could enhance performance in a sporting environment, perhaps
even on a sustainable timeline with maintenance treatment.