scholarly journals Comparing the biomechanical characteristics between squat and standing serves in female table tennis athletes

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changxiao Yu ◽  
Shirui Shao ◽  
Julien S. Baker ◽  
Yaodong Gu

Background The table tennis serve involves complex spatial movements combined with biomechanial characteristics. Although the differences in lower-limb biomechanial characteristics to a great extent influence the translational and spinning velocity of the ball when using the different styles of table tennis serve, few researchers have studied their mechanics. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the differences in lower-limb activity between the squat and standing serves during a table tennis short serve. Methods Ten advanced female table tennis participants performed a squat serve and standing serve in random order. A Vicon motion analysis system and a Novel Pedar insole plantar pressure measurement system were used to record kinematics and kinetics data, respectively. Results Key findings from the study were that the squat serve not only showed significantly larger hip and knee flexion, as well as ankle dorsiflexion, it also showed significantly larger hip adduction and external knee rotation, with larger changing angular rate of the lower limb joints in the sagittal and the transverse planes when the two serving styles were compared. In addition, the force-time integral (FTI) was higher in the rear foot area for the standing serve. Discussion The results demonstrated that the squat serve needs higher lower limb drive during a table tennis short serve compared with a standing serve. These biomechanical considerations may be beneficial for table tennis athletes and coaches as a method of optimizing performance characteristics during both competition and training.

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12481
Author(s):  
Yuqi He ◽  
Dong Sun ◽  
Xiaoyi Yang ◽  
Gusztáv Fekete ◽  
Julien S. Baker ◽  
...  

Background Biomechanical footwork research during table tennis performance has been the subject of much interest players and exercise scientists. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower limb kinetic characteristics of the chasse step and one step footwork during stroke play using traditional discrete analysis and one-dimensional statistical parameter mapping. Methods Twelve national level 1 table tennis players (Height: 172 ± 3.80 cm, Weight: 69 ± 6.22 kg, Age: 22 ± 1.66 years, Experience: 11 ± 1.71 year) from Ningbo University volunteered to participate in the study. The kinetic data of the dominant leg during the chasse step and one step backward phase (BP) and forward phase (FP) was recorded by instrumented insole systems and a force platform. Paired sample T tests were used to analyze maximum plantar force, peak pressure of each plantar region, the force time integral and the pressure time integral. For SPM analysis, the plantar force time series curves were marked as a 100% process. A paired-samples T-test in MATLAB was used to analyze differences in plantar force. Results One step produced a greater plantar force than the chasse step during 6.92–11.22% BP (P = 0.039). The chasse step produced a greater plantar force than one step during 53.47–99.01% BP (P < 0.001). During the FP, the chasse step showed a greater plantar force than the one step in 21.06–84.06% (P < 0.001). The one step produced a higher maximum plantar force in the BP (P = 0.032) and a lower maximum plantar force in the FP (P = 0) compared with the chasse step. The one step produced greater peak pressure in the medial rearfoot (P = 0) , lateral rearfoot (P = 0) and lateral forefoot (P = 0.042) regions than the chasse step during BP. In FP, the chasse step showed a greater peak pressure in the Toe (P = 0) than the one step. The one step had a lower force time integral (P = 0) and greater pressure time integral (P = 0) than the chasse step in BP, and the chasse step produced a greater force time integral (P = 0) and pressure time integral (P = 0.001) than the one step in the FP. Conclusion The findings indicate that athletes can enhance plantarflexion function resulting in greater weight transfer, facilitating a greater momentum during the 21.06–84.06% of FP. This is in addition to reducing the load on the dominant leg during landing by utilizing a buffering strategy. Further to this, consideration is needed to enhance the cushioning capacity of the sole heel and the stiffness of the toe area.


Author(s):  
Dong Sun ◽  
Yao Dong Gu ◽  
Gusztáv Fekete ◽  
Justin Fernandez

The purpose of this study was to testing for difference in performance and injury risks between three different outsole configuration soccer boots on artificial turf. Fourteen experienced soccer players performed 45° cut test. They selected soccer boots with artificial ground design (AG), turf cleats boots (TF) and indoor boots (IN) randomly. A Vicon three dimension motion analysis system was used to capture kinematic data and Kistler force platform was used to record the ground reaction force. Novel Pedar-X insole plantar pressure measurement system was utilized to collect the plantar pressure synchronized. During 45° cut, artificial ground design (AG) showed significantly smaller peak knee flexion (p<0.001) and greater abduction angles (p<0.001) than indoor boots (IN). AG showed significantly greater vertical average loading rate (VALR) compared with TF (p=0.005) and IN (p=0.003). The results of plantar pressure found that AG showed the highest peak pressure and force-time integral in the heel (H) and medial forefoot (MFF). Artificial ground design (AG) and turf cleats (TF) may offer a performance benefit on artificial turf compared to IN. In summary, AG may enhance athletic performance on artificial turf, but also may undertake higher risks of non-contact injuries compared with TF and IN.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Reid ◽  
Amity C. Campbell ◽  
B. C. Elliott

Tennis stroke mechanics have attracted considerable biomechanical analysis, yet current filtering practice may lead to erroneous reporting of data near the impact of racket and ball. This research had three aims: (1) to identify the best method of estimating the displacement and velocity of the racket at impact during the tennis serve, (2) to demonstrate the effect of different methods on upper limb kinematics and kinetics and (3) to report the effect of increased noise on the most appropriate treatment method. The tennis serves of one tennis player, fit with upper limb and racket retro-reflective markers, were captured with a Vicon motion analysis system recording at 500 Hz. The raw racket tip marker displacement and velocity were used as criterion data to compare three different endpoint treatments and two different filters. The 2nd-order polynomial proved to be the least erroneous extrapolation technique and the quintic spline filter was the most appropriate filter. The previously performed “smoothing through impact” method, using a quintic spline filter, underestimated the racket velocity (9.1%) at the time of impact. The polynomial extrapolation method remained effective when noise was added to the marker trajectories.


Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changxiao Yu ◽  
Shirui Shao ◽  
Jan Awrejcewicz ◽  
Julien S. Baker ◽  
Yaodong Gu

Background and objectives: The popularity of table tennis has increased globally. As a result, the biomechanical movement patterns in the lower limb during table tennis have attracted extensive attention from coaches, scientists and athletes. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences between the long and short chasse steps in table tennis and evaluate risk factors related to injuries in the lower limb. Materials and Methods: Twelve male elite athletes performed forehand topspin strokes with long and short chasse steps in this study, respectively. The kinematics data of the lower-limb joints were measured by a Vicon motion analysis system. The electromyograms (EMG) of six lower-limb muscles were recorded using a myoelectricity system. Results: The key findings were that the angle change rate of the ankle in the long chasse step was faster with a larger range of motion (ROM) in the coronal and transverse planes. The hip was also faster in the sagittal and transverse planes but slower in the coronal plane compared with the short chasse step. In addition, the vastus medialis (VM) was the first activated muscle in the chasse step. Conclusions: The hip and ankle joints in the long chasse step and the knee joint in the short chasse step have higher susceptibility to injury. Moreover, tibialis anterior (TA), vastus medialis (VM) and gastrocnemius (GM) should be sufficiently stretched and warmed prior to playing table tennis. The results of this study may provide helpful guidance for teaching strategies and providing an understanding of potential sport injury mechanisms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinsup Song ◽  
Julie Lin ◽  
Tyler Austin ◽  
Richard Teter ◽  
Kevin Oshiokpekhai ◽  
...  

Background Low-Dye taping is commonly used to manage foot pathologies and pain. Precut one-piece QUICK TAPE was designed to facilitate taping. However, no study to date has demonstrated that QUICK TAPE offers similar support and off-loading as traditional taping. Methods This pilot study compared the performance of QUICK TAPE and low-Dye taping in 20 healthy participants (40 feet) with moderate-to-severe pes planus. Study participants completed arch height index (AHI), dynamic plantar assessment with a plantar pressure measurement system, and subjective rating in three conditions: barefoot, low-Dye, and QUICK TAPE. The order of test conditions was randomized for each participant, and the taping was applied to both feet based on a standard method. A generalized estimating equation with an identity link function was used to examine differences across test conditions while accounting for potential dependence in bilateral data. Results Participants stood with a significantly greater AHI (P = .007) when either taping was applied compared with barefoot. Participants also demonstrated significantly different plantar loading when walking with both tapings versus barefoot. Both tapings yielded reduced force-time integral (FTI) in the medial and lateral forefoot and increased FTI under toes. Unlike previous studies, however, no lateralization of plantar pressure was observed with either taping. Participants ranked both tapings more supportive than barefoot. Most participants (77.8%) ranked low-Dye least comfortable, and 55.6% preferred QUICK TAPE over low-Dye. Conclusions Additional studies are needed to examine the clinical utility of QUICK TAPE in individuals with foot pathologies such as heel pain syndrome and metatarsalgia.


1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Kernozek ◽  
E. E. LaMott ◽  
M. J. Dancisak

We examined the reliability of in-shoe foot pressure measurement using the Pedar in-shoe pressure measurement system for 25 participants walking at treadmill speeds of 0.89, 1.12, and 1.34 meters/sec. The measurement system uses EMED insoles, which consist of 99 capacitive sensors, sampled at 50 Hz. Data were collected for 20 seconds at two separate times while participants walked at each gait speed. Differences in some of the loading variables across speed relative to the total foot and across the different anatomical regions were detected. Different anatomical regions of the foot were loaded differently with variations in walking speed. The results indicated the need to control speed when evaluating loading parameters using in-shoe pressure measurement techniques. Coefficients of reliability were calculated. Variables such as peak force for the total foot required two steps to achieve a coefficient of reliability of 0.98. To achieve excellent reliability (>0.90) in the peak force, force time integral, peak pressure, and pressure time integral across the total foot and the seven regions, a maximum of eight steps was needed. In general, timing variables, such as the instant of peak force and the instant of peak pressure, tended to be the least reliable measures.


Author(s):  
Xiang Lv ◽  
Yuqi He ◽  
Dong Sun ◽  
Julien S Baker ◽  
Rongrong Xuan ◽  
...  

Different football shoe designs used under the same turf condition can impact athletic performance and influence the risk of injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different shape studs of football shoes on lower limb kinetics during straight-ahead running and 45° left sidestep cutting movements. Twelve male football players were recruited from university football teams. They were asked to perform six trials using straight-ahead running and a 45° left sidestep cutting movement on artificial turf while wearing football shoes with the following three stud configurations: knife stud, triangle stud and round stud. The contact time of knife stud was longer than triangle stud and round stud. In the straight-ahead running task, the ground force in the direction of movement of knife stud and round stud was lower than triangle stud. The peak pressure on the lateral forefoot (5 metatarsal region) in knife stud was higher than triangle stud and round stud in the cutting movements. The peak pressure and force–time integral on the medial (1 metatarsal region) and central (2–4 metatarsal region) forefoot in triangle stud were smaller than round stud. The different stud shapes of firm ground soccer shoes have little effect on the traction force. Knife stud has a higher risk of fifth metatarsal bone injury. The triangle stud shows good explosive force and provides the ability to change direction quickly. The round stud generally produces the minimum peak vertical ground reaction force and has a good capability of changing direction among the three shoes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirui Shao ◽  
Changxiao Yu ◽  
Yang Song ◽  
Julien S Baker ◽  
Ukadike C Ugbolue ◽  
...  

The agile footwork is a basic but important skill, how to efficiently grasp and improve its performance has always interested coaches and athletes, beginners particularly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in kinetics and kinematics of the cross step between professional athletes and novice athletes using the Oxford foot model. Twenty-two male participants (professional athletes, 11; novice athletes, 11) with dominant right feet participated in the table tennis cross step test. A Vicon motion analysis system and a Novel Pedar insole plantar pressure measurement system were used to record kinematic and kinetic data, respectively. Professional athletes showed significantly smaller forefoot plantarflexion and abduction, but larger hallux dorsiflexion at the cross step ending. In addition, they also showed significantly larger forefoot dorsiflexion and adduction but smaller forefoot eversion as well as rearfoot inversion than novice athletes at the forward-end of the step. In the entire motion, professional athletes performed significantly smaller joints range of motion, especially the hindfoot with respect to tibia angles. Concerning plantar relative load, professional athletes were significantly greater than that of novice athletes in the other toes, lateral forefoot and rear foot. Professional athletes possessed higher footwork agility and greater foot motor technique. The findings on the internal mechanisms of the cross step could help coaches and novice athletes understand the mechanical efficiencies in stroke finishing leading to improvements in performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Sun ◽  
Qichang Mei ◽  
Julien S Baker ◽  
Xuewen Jia ◽  
Yaodong Gu

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different outsole hardness of turf cleats shoes on the lower limb kinematics and kinetics of soccer players playing on artificial turf. The participants were required to complete tasks of straight running and 45° left sidestep cutting movements, respectively, at the speed of 4.5 ± 0.2 m/s on artificial turf. They were asked to randomly select turf cleats shoes with a soft outsole (SO), medium hardness outsole (MO) and hard outsole (HO). During the stance phase of straight running, peak pressure and force-time integral in medial forefoot (MFF) of players wearing cleats shoes with MO were significantly higher than those wearing cleats shoes with SO. During the stance phase of a 45° cutting maneuver, players wearing cleats shoes with SO showed significantly higher peak knee flexion and abduction angles than the HO group. Players wearing cleats shoes with SO also showed higher ankle dorsiflexion and inversion angles compared with those wearing cleats shoes with HO. The vertical average loading rate (VALR) as well as peak pressure and force-time integral in the heel (H) and lateral forefoot (LFF) regions of players wearing cleats shoes with HO were significantly higher than those wearing shoes with SO. On the contrary, peak pressure and force-time integral of players wearing shoes with SO were significantly higher than those wearing shoes with HO in MFF. A higher vertical loading rate and plantar pressure of some areas may increase the potential risk of metatarsal stress fractures and plantar fasciitis. Therefore, this finding about turf cleats shoes could give some theoretic support for the design of turf cleats shoes and material optimization in the future.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10841
Author(s):  
Yuqi He ◽  
Xiang Lyu ◽  
Dong Sun ◽  
Julien S. Baker ◽  
Yaodong Gu

Background Topspin is one of the most attacking stroke in table tennis sport. The aim of this research was to investigate the kinematic characteristics of the lower limb (driving leg) during topspin forehand loop in different playing level table tennis athletes. Methods Ten male table tennis athletes performed topspin forehand loop shots with maximal force to hit the ball that was played by a professional table tennis coach. The three-dimensional Vicon motion analysis system was used to capture the kinematic information. Results The key findings from this research indicate that there were no significant differences in motion time between elite athletes (EA) and medium athletes (MA) during the entire phase (P = 0.784). EA showed significantly less knee (P < 0.001) as well as hip (P < 0.001) flexion in the BS stage when contrasted to MA, with a significant larger ankle varus (P = 0.003) as well as eversion (P < 0.001) than MA in the BS and FS phase, respectively. EA displayed a significant larger angular changing rate of ankle dorsiflexion (P < 0.001) and varus (P < 0.001) in the BS stage with ankle plantar flexion as well as eversion during the FS stage, with a significant larger ankle internal rotation (P = 0.003) and external rotation (P < 0.001) than MA in the BS and FS phase, respectively. Furthermore, EA showed significantly larger ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.001) as well as plantarflexion (P < 0.001) ROM in the BS and FS phase respectively compared with MA. Conclusion Ankle activities in the all plane displayed significant differences in kinematic characteristics between EA and MA. MA should pay attention to the function that ankle played in the kinetic chain, such as training the lower limb muscle rapid reaction ability to improve the energy transfer efficiency and capability of the kinetic chain.


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