Does stroke performance in amateur tennis players depend on functional power generating capacity?

BACKGROUND: Physical preparation is becoming more important in amateur tennis player training programs. Yet, when studying stroke performance in these players, there is a lack of evidence on the role of functional power generating capacity. The aim of the study was therefore to determine whether functional power generating capacity correlates with speed and accuracy of forehand and backhand groundstrokes in amateur players. We also studied the correlation with handgrip strength as a more classical measurement of general muscle strength. METHODS: A total of 21 male amateur players, aged 33.7±4.6 with 17.1±6.7 years of play, were tested. They performed a medicine ball side throw test, a handgrip dynamometer test, and a stroke performance test. RESULTS: Distance of the medicine ball throw on the dominant side positively correlated to the speed of the fastest forehand (r=0.52; P=0.017) and backhand accuracy (r=0.49; P=0.024). There was also a correlation between the handgrip strength on the dominant side and the speed of the fastest forehand (r=0.52, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that groundstroke performance in amateur tennis players depends on functional power generating capacity, but that it is not the principal contributing factor.

Aislamiento de células mesenquimales del ligamento periodontal de premolares extraídos. Método simplificado / Isolation of periodontal ligament stem cells from extracted premolars. Simplified method

Resumen: El ligamento periodontal es un tejido conectivo fibroso, de origen ectomesenquimal que contiene una población de células troncales postnatales multipotenciales, con capacidad clonogénica y alto índice de proliferación. Se ha conseguido cultivar células troncales postnatales multipotenciales a través de diferentes métodos de extracción, con algunos problemas técnicos. Por esta razón, se compararon seis diferentes métodos a fin de mejorar el aislamiento de células primarias del ligamento periodontal. Se aislaron células troncales postnatales multipotenciales a partir de 36 premolares sanos, que se cultivaron en medio de Eagle modificado por Dulbecco (BioWest) completo (adicionado con L-glutamina, 10% de suero fetal bovino y 1% de antibiótico) y en condiciones estándares de cultivo. Se realizaron los ensayos para proliferación celular mediante la técnica de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5difeniltetrazolio, migración celular a través de la prueba de lesión del cultivo, y se evaluó su diferenciación osteogénica. Los cultivos realizados por triplicado con cada una de las técnicas publicadas, nos condujo a obtener una población mínima de células que fueron susceptibles a contaminarse. Se realizó con el «método simplificado¼: por digestión enzimática y cultivo de explantos, con las células troncales postnatales multipotenciales obtenidas se observó una proliferación durante 14 días en condiciones estándares de cultivo ascendente, en las pruebas de migración las células troncales postnatales multipotenciales cubrieron totalmente la superficie lesionada a las 72 horas, se observó expresión positiva de CD90 en más del 80% de las células; expresión positiva a CD73 en un 70%, CD105 en un 60% y vimentina en un 90% de la población, así como un marcaje negativo a CD11b y CD45. Se observó una diferenciación osteogénica positiva a los 14 días mediante la expresión positiva a RUNX2 en al menos el 15% de las células y a osteocalcina en un 90%, así como las pruebas positivas a rojo de alizarina. Con los resultados obtenidos, podemos afirmar que el método simplificado permite aislar una población de células mesenquimales, que se pueden obtener a partir de premolares sanos extraídos.

Abstract: Periodontal ligament is a fibrous connective tissue of ectomesenchymal origin which contains a multipotent postnatal stem cells population with clonogenic capacity and high proliferation index. Multipotent postnatal stem cells population culture has been achieved through several extraction methods, nevertheless some technical problems have been encountered. For this reason, in the present study, 6 different methods were compared so as to improve isolation of primary periodontal ligament cells. Multipotent postnatal stem cells population were isolated from 36 healthy premolars, which were then cultured in complete Dulbecco m odified Eagle medium (BioWest) (added with L-glutamine, 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic), in standard culture conditions. Assays for cell proliferation were conducted with 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium technique as well as cell migration through crop injury test, after which osteogenic differentiation was assessed. Cultures were performed in triplicate with each of the published techniques; thus we were able to obtain a minimum population of cells susceptible to contamination. The «simplifled method¼ was conducted through explant enzymatic digestion and culture: with obtained multipotent postnatal stem cells population, a 14 day proliferation was observed in standard conditions of ascendant culture; in migration tests, multipotent postnatal stem cells population totally covered injured surfaces after 72 hours. CD90 positive expression was observed in over 80% of all cells; CD73 positive expression was found in 70% of cells, CD105 in 60% and vimentin in 90% of the population, as well as negative marking to CD11b and CD45. Positive osteogenic differentiation was observed after 14 days, through positive expression to RUNX2 in at least 15% of cells, and to osteocalcin in 90% as well as positive test to alizarin red. Based on obtained results we were able to affirm that the simplified method allows to isolate a population of mesenchymal cells, which might be obtained from extracted healthy premolars.