Motion and EMG Analysis of the Forehand Topspin, Forehand Stroke, and Forehand Attack in Elite Table Tennis Players

March 30, 2026 updated by: Yin-Liang Lin, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Motion and Electromyographic Analysis of the Forehand Topspin Against Topspin, Forehand Topspin Against Backspin, Forehand Stroke, and Forehand Attack in Elite Table Tennis Players

This research will analyze and compare the muscle activation levels, muscle recruitment timing, trunk kinematics, and shoulder joint kinematics between the four forehand strokes and between elite table tennis players with and without shoulder injuries, providing insights for daily training and rehabilitation programs to reduce the occurrence of sports injuries.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The study participants will be elite table tennis players aged between 13 and 40. Participants must have competed in the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Ranking Tournament or the National Table Tennis Championships within the past three years and have at least four years of table tennis experience, and train for more than 10 hours per week.

The study involves four types of forehand strokes: forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
    • Taiwan
      • Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan, 112
        • Recruiting
        • National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Table tennis players

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The ages range from 13 to 40 years old
  • Competed in the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Ranking Tournament or the National Table Tennis Championships within the past three years
  • At least four years of table tennis experience, and train for more than 10 hours per week

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of upper limb surgery or fracture
  • History of shoulder dislocation
  • History of spine injury in the last year
  • Systemic autoimmune disease or cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Any neurological complications

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
table tennis players (healthy group)
elite table tennis players without shoulder pain
Device: motion capture system, surface electromyography
forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack
table tennis players (shoulder pain group)
elite table tennis players with shoulder pain
Device: motion capture system, surface electromyography
forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Trunk muscles activation during forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of bilateral erector spinae and bilateral abdominal external oblique will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %)
Immediately during the experiment
Trunk kinematics during forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
Trunk kinematics, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation, were measured in degrees (°) across four conditions: forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack.
Immediately during the experiment
Upper limbs muscles activation during forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, and pectoralis Major will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %) and calculated over forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack.
Immediately during the experiment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Trunk mobility
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
Range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine, described with degrees (°).
Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder mobility
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
Range of motion of the glenohumeral joint, described with degrees (°).
Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder motor control
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
A clinical assessment of movement quality during shoulder flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation
Immediately during the experiment
Trunk motor control
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
A clinical assessment of movement quality during trunk rotation
Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder kinematics during forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder kinematics, including flexion, abduction, horizontal adduction and horizontal adduction, were measured in degrees (°) across four conditions: forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack.
Immediately during the experiment
Trunk muscle strength
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
Isometric muscle strength of the erector spinae and external oblique abdominal muscles will be evaluated using a hand-held dynamometer (MicroFET2). Data will be expressed in newton (N).
Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder muscle strength
Time Frame: Immediately during the experiment
Isometric muscle strength of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid and pectoralis major muscles will be evaluated using a hand-held dynamometer (MicroFET2). Data will be expressed in newton (N).
Immediately during the experiment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: YIN-LIANG LIN, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 2, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 30, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NYCU114030AF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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