Despite dramatic changes in tennis equipment and technique, more than 30% of recreational tennis players suffer from lateral elbow pain ("tennis elbow"). Certain kinematic and electromyographic characteristics in backhand strokes have been implicated as major factors responsible for lateral elbow pain. From a local tennis club, 22 recreational players who were rated 3.0 to 5.0 skill level (intermediate to advanced) by United States Tennis Association criteria participated in this study. Either one-handed or two-handed backhand ground stroke techniques were used by the subjects according to their preference. Half of the subjects for each technique had lateral elbow pain related to playing tennis. Four groups (one-handed and two-handed technique with and without elbow pain) were analyzed in terms of kinematic and electromyographic characteristics. A three-dimensional kinematic analysis was performed using data obtained with 60 Hz videography. Electromyographic data were collected using a telemetered electromyography (EMG) system at 100 Hz through surface electrodes. / Graduation date: 1997

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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.