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

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: Recruiting
• Conditions: Elite Table Tennis Players
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: motion capture system, surface electromyography

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: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: YIN-LIANG LIN; Phone Number: +886-2-28267288; Email: yllin1020@nycu.edu.tw
• Study Contact Backup: Name: HSIU-LI LIN; Email: bromine.be12@nycu.edu.tw

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• 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

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
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

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trunk muscles activation during forehand topspin against topspin, forehand topspin against backspin, forehand stroke, and forehand attack	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	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	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

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trunk mobility	Range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine, described with degrees (°).	Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder mobility	Range of motion of the glenohumeral joint, described with degrees (°).	Immediately during the experiment
Shoulder motor control	A clinical assessment of movement quality during shoulder flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation	Immediately during the experiment
Trunk motor control	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	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	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	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

• Sponsor: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: YIN-LIANG LIN, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 30, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: elite table tennis players; shoulder electromyography; trunk kinematics; trunk electromyography
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Electrodiagnosis; Myography; Electromyography
• Other Study ID 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