Functional Training in Adolescent Table Tennis (FT in Adolesce)

The Effect of Functional Training on Speed, Balance, and Functional Capacity in Adolescent Table Tennis Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of an eight-week functional training program on physical performance parameters in adolescent table tennis players. Functional training involves multi-joint and multi-plane exercises designed to improve movement quality, strength, balance, and coordination.

Thirty adolescent table tennis players will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Functional Training, Conventional Training, or Control (routine training). The Functional Training group will perform a structured functional exercise program in addition to regular table tennis training, while the Conventional Training group will continue standard training routines. The Control group will maintain regular practice only.

Physical performance variables including flexibility, agility, speed, vertical jump performance, functional movement patterns, and balance will be assessed before, during, and after the intervention period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Functional Training in Adolescent Table Tennis Players
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Functional Training; Behavioral: Conventional Training

Detailed Description

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of an eight-week functional training program on physical performance in adolescent table tennis players. Functional training focuses on multi-joint, multi-planar exercises aimed at improving movement efficiency, balance, strength, and neuromuscular coordination.

Thirty adolescent table tennis players aged 12-16 years with at least three years of training experience will be recruited and randomly allocated to one of three groups: Functional Training, Conventional Training, or Control. The Functional Training group will perform a structured exercise program consisting of dynamic, whole-body movements designed to enhance agility, balance, speed, and movement quality. Training sessions will be conducted three times per week for eight weeks in addition to regular table tennis practice.

The Conventional Training group will continue standard technical and tactical training without additional functional exercises. The Control group will maintain routine training only.

Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. Assessments will include flexibility, agility, sprint speed, vertical jump performance, Functional Movement Screen scores, and static and dynamic balance measures. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Merkez
    • Karabük, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye), 78000
      • Karabuk University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female adolescent table tennis players aged 12-18 years.
• Actively training and competing in table tennis for at least 2 years.
• Participating in at least 3 training sessions per week.
• Free from injury or medical conditions affecting physical performance.
• Voluntarily consent to participate in the study (parental consent required for minors).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any musculoskeletal injury, neurological disorder, or medical condition affecting training or performance.
• Participation in another structured training program during the study period.
• Non-compliance with study protocol or inability to attend scheduled sessions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Functional Training Group; Eight-week functional training program focusing on flexibility, agility, speed, balance, and movement quality. Training is performed three times per week alongside regular table tennis practice.	Behavioral: Functional Training; Eight-week functional training program focusing on flexibility, agility, speed, balance, and movement quality. Training is performed three times per week alongside regular table tennis practice.
Active Comparator: Conventional Training Group; Participants perform conventional table tennis training for eight weeks following standard club routines.	Behavioral: Conventional Training; Standard table tennis training performed three times per week for eight weeks without additional functional exercises.
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants continue their usual routine table tennis training without any additional intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall Physical Performance Score	Overall physical performance will be assessed using a battery of standardized physical performance tests including flexibility, agility, speed, vertical jump height, balance, and Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Flexibility: Sit-and-Reach Test (cm; higher values indicate better flexibility) Agility: T-test (seconds; lower values indicate better performance) Speed: 10-meter sprint test (seconds; lower values indicate better performance) Vertical Jump: Countermovement jump height (cm; higher values indicate better performance) Balance: Static and dynamic balance tests (test-specific scoring; higher scores indicate better balance) Functional Movement Screen (FMS): Composite score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating better movement quality	Baseline (pre-test), mid-intervention (week 4), and post-intervention (week 8)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Flexibility (Sit-and-Reach Test)	Flexibility will be assessed using a sit-and-reach test that measures the flexibility of the hamstring and lower back muscles. Measurement: Sit-and-reach Test Unit: centimeters (cm) Range: Typically 0-50 cm Direction: Higher scores indicate better flexibility	Baseline (pre-test), mid-intervention (week 4), and post-intervention (week 8)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Alirıza Han Civan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alirıza Han Civan, Dr, Karabük Üniversitesi Hasan Doğan Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi Spor Yöneticiliği Bölümü

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): January 3, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Adolescents; Balance; Physical Performance; Functional Movement Screen; Functional Training; Agility; Vertical Jump; Speed; Table Tennis; Multi-Joint Exercises
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-77192459-050.99-381871

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual patient data will not be shared in this study. Study data were analyzed solely by the research team and will not be shared with third parties to protect participant confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No