Evaluation of elite table tennis players' technique effectiveness

Gender differences in coping among elite table tennis players

: The current study investigates the relationship between simple reaction time, choice reaction time, and eye-hand coordination with peripheral vision in elite female table tennis players. Ten female table tennis players of the Iranian national team with a mean age of 19.7 ± 5.964, in the 18th Asian Games of 2018, Jakarta, participated via convenience sampling. The visual field was evaluated with the Humphrey automated perimetry. Choice and simple reaction time were assessed using Deary-Liewald reaction time tester software. In order to measure eye-hand coordination, the manual test of alternate-hand wall toss was used. Data were analyzed in statistical package for the social sciences using Pearson’s correlation. The results show that there was no significant relationship between simple and choice reaction time with peripheral vision in the left and right eyes. Also, results show that there was no significant relationship between eye-hand coordination with peripheral vision in the left and right eyes (P ≤ 0.05). The findings of this study show that experts in an activity visually searched their environment and located essential information more effectively and efficiently than novices. Therefore, we know that this visual feature is more a function of expertise than visual acuity.

Fatigue specifically affects the force production capacity of the working muscle, leading to a decline in athletes’ performance. This study investigated the impact of fatigue on ankle flexor muscle activity and ground reaction forces (GRFs) in elite table tennis players, with a focus on the implications for performance and injury risk. Twelve elite male table tennis athletes participated in this study, undergoing a fatigue protocol that simulated intense gameplay conditions. Muscle activity of the soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) muscles, heel height, and GRFs were measured using a combination of wireless electromyography (EMG), motion capture, and force plate systems. Results showed a significant decrease in muscle activity in both legs post-fatigue, with a more pronounced decline in the right leg. This decrease in muscle activity negatively affected ankle joint flexibility, limiting heel lift-off. Interestingly, the maximal anteroposterior GRF generated by the left leg increased in the post-fatigue phase, suggesting the use of compensatory strategies to maintain balance and performance. These findings underscore the importance of managing fatigue, addressing muscle imbalances, and improving ankle flexibility and strength to optimize performance and reduce the risk of injuries.

The Analysis of the Technique Effectiveness and Competition Performance between Korean and Chinese National Men's Table Tennis Players using Three-phase Evaluation Theory

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess spinal mobility in elite table tennis players compared to non-athletes.METHODS: The research was conducted on a group of 20 table tennis players from Polish Ekstraklasa league clubs (study group). The control group consisted of 20 students, who did not practice any sport. Cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine mobility in the sagittal and transverse planes was measured using a Saunders inclinometer (Saunders Group Ltd, Tbilisi, Georgia). The author’s questionnaire was also used to examine whether physical activity can have an effect on the prevalence of spinal pain, and body position and region in which the pain occurs.RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between the groups were observed in flexion and extension of the intervertebral disc space between the spinous processes of the twelfth thoracic vertebra and the first lumbar vertebra and extension of the intervertebral disc space between the spinous processes of the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra and the midpoint of the sacral bone.CONCLUSIONS: The study group of young table tennis players of the Polish Ekstraklasa League had better ranges of motion in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in the sagittal and transverse planes compared to their non-athlete peers. Further research is needed to determine whether table tennis can alter spinal mobility in other spinal segments and planes of motion.

Few sociological surveys have focused on the experiences of elite athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, more and more ID and/or ASD athletes are practicing elite sport. In this article, we seek to explore the mixed contacts of elite ID and/or ASD athletes with non-disabled people, resulting from their practicing both in sports contexts organized for disabled people (specific context) and non-disabled people (mainstream context). Fifteen semi-structured interviews and eight days of ethnographic observations were carried out with 7 elite table tennis players and 8 elite track-and-field athletes. The results analysis highlights the heterogeneity of the experiences - positive and negative - of elite ID and/or ASD athletes, both in specific and mainstream sports contexts. This heterogeneity of experiences invites favoring institutional arrangements that make the modalities of sport participation flexible for people with ID and/or ASD.

Spatial cognition facilitates the successful completion of specific cognitive tasks through lateral processing and neuroplasticity. Long-term training in table tennis induces neural processing efficiency in the visuospatial cognitive processing cortex of athletes. However, the lateralization characteristics and neural mechanisms of visual–spatial cognitive processing in table tennis players in non-sport domains are unclear. This study utilized event-related potentials to investigate differences in the spatial cognition abilities of regular college students (controls) and table tennis players. A total of 48 participants (28 controls; 20 s-level national table tennis players) completed spatial cognitive tasks while electroencephalography data were recorded. Task performance was better in the table tennis group than in the control group (reaction time: P < 0.001; correct number/sec: P = 0.043), P3 amplitude was greater in the table tennis group (P = 0.040), spatial cognition showed obvious lateralization characteristics (P < 0.001), table tennis players showed a more obvious right-hemisphere advantage, and the P3 amplitude in the right hemisphere was significantly greater in table tennis athletes than in the control group. (P = 0.044). Our findings demonstrate a right-hemisphere advantage in spatial cognition. Long-term training strengthened the visual–spatial processing ability of table tennis players, and this advantage effect was reflected in the neuroplasticity of the right hemisphere (the dominant hemisphere for spatial processing).

BACKGROUNDShoulder is the most injured part in table tennis players, and it takes multiple roles in transmitting power and striking the center of the ball during the stroke. Proprioception is strongly correlated with high level of athletic performance. It is customary to assume that there is a correlation between proprioception and muscle strength and therefore proprioceptive assessment and rehabilitation is often neglected.AIMTo investigate the correlation between isokinetic muscle strength and proprioception in the internal and external rotation muscle groups of elite Chinese male table tennis players, to provide reference for physical training and rehabilitation of elite table tennis players.METHODSA total of 19 national elite table tennis players from the Chinese National Table Tennis Team were recruited in this research. All of them had more than 10 years training experience and had participated major competitions such as the National Games and World Youth Championships. IsoMed 2000 was used to test the peak torque of internal and external rotation isokinetic concentric contraction of the athletes' bilateral shoulder joints at low speed (60°/s) and high speed (180°/s) respectively; IsoMed 2000 was used to conduct the Joint Position Reproduction test to evaluate the athletes' proprioceptive ability capacity at low speed (60°/s) and high speed (180°/s) respectively. If the data satisfied the normal distribution, the correlation between the differences in peak torque s and angles in different directions was analyzed using a Pearson simple linear model; otherwise, Spearman correlation analysis was used. The comparison of proprioceptive ability between the table tennis racket-holding hand and non-racket-holding hands was performed using independent samples t-test if the data satisfied a normal distribution; otherwise, the Mann-Whitney U test was used.RESULTSThere was no direct linear correlation between the strength and proprioceptive correlation analysis at slow speed (60°/s) and fast speed (180°/s) in the racket-holding hand; At the slow speed (60°/s) and fast speed (180°/s), there was no correlation between muscle strength and proprioception in the non-racket-holding hand except for the internal rotation variable error (VE) and external rotation relative peak torque, which showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.477, P < 0.05), (r = 0.554, P < 0.05). The internal rotation’s constant error (CE) and VE were 1.06 ± 3.99 and 2.94 ± 2.16, respectively, for the racket-holding hand, and -3.36 ± 2.39 and 1.22 ± 0.93, respectively, for the non-racket-holding hand; the internal rotation’s CE, VE of the racket-holding hand was lower than that of the non-racket-holding hand, and there was a highly significant difference (P < 0.01).CONCLUSIONThere was no correlation between muscle strength and proprioceptive function in the internal and external rotation of the racket-holding hand’s shoulder in elite Chinese male table tennis players. These results may be useful for interventions for shoulder injuries and for the inclusion of proprioceptive training in rehabilitation programs.

This study aims to test the reaction agility and stroke effect of table tennis players, explore the correlation between the reaction agility and stroke effect, and analyze the differences between players of different skill levels. Eighty male table tennis players (40 national first-level and 40 s-level) were recruited to participate in the reaction agility test (Speed Chase, Coordination, Reaction, and lower limb Explosive Force) and random full-court stroke effect test (speed, spin, and placement). There was a positive correlation between athletes' reaction agility and their stroke effect. Among these, the players' Turing Time (left) has a significant correlation with the ball speed (r = 0.291), the Turing Time (left) has a significant correlation with the spin speed(r = 0.864), and the Revering Time has a significant correlation with the placement (r = 0.250). There were significant differences in the Moving Distance, Reversing Time, Turning Time (left), and Turning Time (right) between the first- and second-level players (all p < 0.05). The reaction agility of table tennis players was significantly but weak correlated with their stroke effect. The first-level table tennis players had higher reaction agility and greater stroke effect (placement and spin speed) than the second-level players. The first-level table tennis players also exhibited faster direction-changing speed and greater rotational speed to left and right sides. Reaction agility tests under task-specific movements can better distinguish the differences of players' reaction agility at different skill levels. Enhancing players' moving speed and reversing ability, lateral coordination ability, and lower limb explosive force can help improve table tennis players' stroke effect.

An interesting and little-reported problem in the literature is the scale of asymmetry in table tennis players, the magnitude of which should perhaps be treated as a risk for injury. Determining the degree of asymmetry in table tennis players can indicate the need to appropriately manage the training process, including compensatory or corrective exercises in the training program, especially since recent studies confirm that training interventions can reduce sporting asymmetries and improve performance. This study aimed to assess the amount of asymmetry in the trunk regarding the frontal plane and the difference between limb circumferences in female table tennis players compared to the control group (non-athletes). Twenty-two women took part in the study. Ten of them were table tennis professionals with an average training experience of 7±4.3 years (the exclusion criterion of the study was a minimum of 3 years of training experience). As a comparison group, the study included 12 female students who did not participate in competitive sports. Body posture was assessed in all subjects using equipment for computer analysis of asymmetry in the torso using the photogrammetric method. Additionally, all the subjects had their upper and lower limb circumferences measured. The results of the conducted research showed asymmetry in the frontal plane in the table tennis player group. As many as six parameters-regarding the pelvic rotation angle, angle of trunk inclination, the height of the angles of the lower shoulder blades and their distance from the spine, as well as the waist triangles, difference in the width and height of the waist triangles and the angle of trunk inclination-indicated asymmetry in this group but significantly differed from the control group (p≤0.05) only in the first parameter given above. The calculated differences in circumference between the right and left sides in the individual groups were statistically different in several cases (p≤0.05). This concerned the circumferences of the arms, forearms, elbows, and knees of table tennis players. The research carried out in this study allowed us to determine the occurrence of asymmetry in the frontal plane of the trunk and between the limbs of table tennis players. According to some studies, this may be a risk factor for injury. However, despite the lack of uniform views in the literature on the importance and threats resulting from asymmetries, it appears that, if only for aesthetic reasons, table tennis would require compensatory or corrective training aimed at developing symmetry of the body structure.

Table tennis players execute short explosive movements, along with continuous hip flexion, abduction, and rotation, increasing their risk of injury. Previous studies reported a rate of return to sports (RTS) of 20% to 80% in athletes following total hip arthroplasty (THA). There are no studies reporting RTS in table tennis players following THA. To evaluate the clinical outcomes and RTS following custom THA in professional, ex-professional, and recreational table tennis players. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Patients who underwent primary THA between April 2013 and January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 2977). Table tennis players of any level that received a custom femoral stem were included in the study (N = 17). At a minimum follow-up of 2 years, all players were assessed using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score, as well as with a sports-specific questionnaire that included questions related to their table tennis practice. Descriptive statistics, including medians and interquartile ranges, were used to summarize the data. All 17 players (22 hips) were available at ≥2 years, of which 3 were professional (5 hips), 4 were ex-professional (6 hips), and 10 were recreational (11 hips). The median OHS was 44.0 (IQR, 44.0-48.0) in professional, 48.0 (IQR, 48.0-48.0) in ex-professional, and 48.0 (IQR, 45.0-48.0) in recreational players. The median FJS was 92.0 (IQR, 88.0-98.0) in professional, 98.0 (IQR, 98.0-98.0) in ex-professional, and 100.0 (IQR, 93.0-100.0) in recreational players. The median UCLA activity score was 10.0 (IQR, 9.0-10.0) in professional, 9.0 (IQR, 9.0-9.8) in ex-professional, and 8.0 (IQR, 5.5-9.0) in recreational players. The rate of RTS was 100% for professional and ex-professional players, and 80% for recreational players. The hours played before onset of symptoms was higher than following surgery for professional (30.0 [IQR, 25.0-30.0] vs 20.0 [IQR, 16.0-22.5] h/week) and ex-professional players (19.5 [IQR, 11.0-29.3] vs 3.0 [IQR, 2.0-5.5] h/week), while it was constant for recreational players (4.0 [IQR, 2.3-4.0] vs 4.0 [IQR, 3.8-4.5] h/week). Our retrospective analysis demonstrated that at a minimum follow-up of 2 years THA using custom stems provided good to excellent clinical outcomes in professional, ex-professional, and recreational table tennis players. All professional and ex-professional players, as well as 80% of recreational players, were able to return to play table tennis, although both professional and ex-professional players reduced their number of hours of play compared with before surgery. These findings could be used to help set expectations for table tennis players who are scheduled to undergo THA.

The purpose of this study was to examine the field perception and outcome of competition in order to promote training and competition effects in table tennis players. Using convenient sampling, this study sampled data from 50 players of men's single table tennis from the 2015 Taiwan Collegiate Games. This study recorded every match and asked players to complete the field perception after competition. With χ^2 and logistic regression analysis, this study found the following results: (1) there was a significant relationship between field perception and outcome of competition in pre-serve; (2) during the tie situation, field perception was correlated with competition outcome; (3) the field perception after outcome of a score was correlated with next score; and (4) field perception shown to promote sport performance in table tennis players. This study concludes that the field perception in pre-serve, tie situation and outcome of last score were significantly correlated with the next score. These results indicate that field perception is beneficial to competition outcome for the table tennis players. This study suggests table tennis players and coaches should strengthen positive field perception in competition to produce more positive perception under critical conditions, which certainly help to improve the performance and win the competitions.

This study aims to investigate table tennis players’ personality traits and motives in the frame of the Big Five personality model and the self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation. A total of 447 Italian table tennis players ranging in level of play between the regional and international levels participated in the study. They completed a self-report questionnaire measuring their personality traits and motives to play table tennis. Findings showed conscientiousness as the most distinctive trait of table tennis players. No differences were detected between elite and non-elite players. Table tennis players are mainly motivated by factors belonging to the intrinsic pole of the self-determination motivational continuum. External reinforcements represent a minimal incentive to play this sport both for elite and non-elite athletes. The current findings help clarify the relationships between personality traits, playing certain types of sports, and achieving different performance levels. We conclude by outlining implications for applied sport psychology.

ABSTRACTTalent detection intends to support lifelong sports participation, reduce dropouts and stimulate sports at the elite level. For this purpose it is important to reveal the specific profile which directs children to the sports that connect to their strengths and preferences. This study evaluated a perceptuomotor skills assessment as part of talent detection for table tennis, a sport in which perceptuomotor skills are considered essential to cope with the difficult technical aspects. Primary school children (n = 121) and gifted young table tennis players (n = 146) were assessed using the Dutch perceptuomotor skills assessment measuring “ball control” and “gross motor function”. A discriminant function analysis confirmed the added value by identifying primary school children fitting the table tennis perceptuomotor profile of the young gifted table tennis players (28%). General linear model analyses for the assessment’s individual test items showed that the table tennis players outperformed their primary school peers on all “ball control” items (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the assessment appears to be of added value for talent detection in table tennis at this young age. Longitudinal studies need to reveal the predictive value for sports participation and elite sports.

The attribute of speed serves the motor performance and gives it the required effectiveness, and the attributes of strength and speed together serve the motor performance so that it performs properly and effectively, thus the ability to score points in the shortest possible time and win against the competitor. The importance of the research lies in preparing special exercises to develop attention aspects and the forehand and backhand skills in table tennis for players according to the correct performance of the skill. From this standpoint, the researcher turned to this study, believing that these special exercises will contribute to developing the physical and skill levels of table tennis players. The research problem was noticed by the researchers through their previous experiences as practitioners of the game in the weakness of attention aspects among table tennis players. The researcher believes that the reason for this is that most coaches do not use modern devices during their training for skills, as they usually rely on traditional methods in implementing and teaching the skill to beginners. Therefore, the researcher decided to add some modern techniques during her study of this problem by trying to use special exercises to develop attention aspects and some table tennis skills for players. The research aims to prepare special exercises to develop attention aspects and some table tennis skills for players, and to identify the effect of special exercises in developing attention aspects and some table tennis skills for players, Conclusions, the results showed that there is a positive effect of special exercises in developing attention aspects (focus – transfer – distribution) among table tennis players aged (12-14) years. The results also showed that there is a positive effect of special exercises in developing some table tennis skills for players aged (12-14) years.