Effects of functional training on tennis-specific physical fitness and functional movement screen in junior tennis players.

OBJECTIVES: Functional training mimics the coordinated motions of multiple muscle groups and joints performed during exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 12-week functional training and traditional resistance training on the performance in junior tennis players. METHODS: Trained tennis players (mean age: 16.6 years) were assigned to a traditional training group (n = 20) or functional training group (n = 20). The traditional training group received a resistance training program by their coach, while the functional training group was given Santana's Racket Sport Program. At baseline, after six weeks, and after 12 weeks (T12), the participants' tennis-specific physical fitness and functional movement screen (FMS) were evaluated. RESULTS: At T12, both training improved the values for multistage fitness test, hexagon test, planned agility test, sit and reach, and 20 metre sprint (p < 0.05); except the flexibility, functional training provided no additional advantages. At T12, functional training enhanced (p < 0.01) all seven components of the FMS, and there is a 100% probability that the total score of the FMS would be enhanced. In contrast, for the traditional training group, shoulder mobility of the FMS decreased (p = 0.03), and there was no changes in other FMS components at T12. CONCLUSIONS: Functional training is not only effective in improving tennis-specific physical fitness, but it also provides greater functional movement advantages for junior tennis players compared to traditional resistance training.

Side differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not related to serve velocity in tennis players with different levels of training experience.

OBJECTIVE: Tennis is characterised by repetitive serves and strokes predominately performed with one arm. This can lead to differences in upper quarter mobility/stability between the stroke and non-stroke arm, which could even enlarge with increasing training experience and negatively affect serve velocity. Thus, we determined side differences (i.e., limb symmetry index) in upper quarter mobility/stability and their association with flat and slice serve velocity in advanced (ITN ≤ 4) female and male tennis players (N = 42, mean age = 23.9 ± 9.3 years) with different levels of training experience (< 2 years: n = 14, 2-5 years: n = 17, 6-8 years: n = 11). RESULTS: Y Balance Test-Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ) side difference (i.e., composite score) and performances (i.e., medial reach) were largest in players with the lowest level of training experience (i.e., < 2 years). Further, YBT-UQ performances (i.e., medial reach and composite score) but not side differences were significantly correlated with flat and slice serve velocity, particularly in less experienced players. Our results suggest that significant side differences in upper quarter mobility/stability occur in less experienced players (indicative of increased injury risk) but they are not related to tennis-specific performance (i.e., serve velocity).

Relationship between lower extremity strength asymmetry and linear multidimensional running in female tennis players.

Background: Tennis requires movement abilities in changing playing situations. This article investigates the relationship between lower extremity strength asymmetry ratio and linear and multidimensional running performances in female tennis players. Methods: A total of 56 female tennis players, with a mean age of 15.44 ± 0.50 years, participated in the study-the research design involved three sessions at 48-hour intervals. In the first session, athletes performed dominant and non-dominant countermovement jump (CMJ) and board jump (BJ) tests. The second (sec) session included 10-meter (-m) and 30-m linear running performance tests, while the final session assessed multidimensional running performance with a change of direction (COD) test. The relationship between CMJ and BJ asymmetry ratios and linear and multidimensional running performances was analysed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Bilateral asymmetry rates in linear and multidimensional running performance were determined through linear regression analysis. Results: The dominant CMJ recorded 17.56 ± 3.47 cm, while BJ was 130.23 ± 21.76 cm, and the non-dominant CMJ measured 16.79 ± 4.51 cm with a BJ of 147.52 ± 30.97 cm. The athletes had a CMJ asymmetry rate of 12.67 ± 11.29% and a BJ asymmetry rate of 7.19 ± 5.28%. A relationship was seen between the CMJ asymmetry rate and 30-m running performance (r = 0.368, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between BJ asymmetry rate and 10-m running performance. Significant correlations were found between 30-m (r = 0.364) and COD (r = 0.529) running performances (p < 0.05). Conclusions: It can be said that the CMJ asymmetry ratio may negatively affect 30-m and the BJ asymmetry ratio may negatively affect 30-m and COD performance.

Effects of low-volume court-based sprint interval training on anaerobic capacity and sport-specific performance in competitive tennis players.

Sprint interval training (SIT) is a potent exercise strategy to enhance athletes' anaerobic capacity in a time-efficient manner. This study aimed to investigate the impact of low-volume, court-based SIT on the anaerobic capacity and sport-specific performance in competitive tennis players. Twenty-four competitive collegiate tennis players were randomly assigned to either the SIT group (n = 12; three sessions per week of court-based repeated-sprint training) or the traditional endurance training (ET) group (n = 12; three sessions per week of 45-min continuous treadmill running, n = 12) for a 6-weeks intervention. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included the Wingate Anaerobic Test, elimination rate of blood lactate (BLAer), tennis-specific repeated sprint ability (RSA), and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (YoYo-IR2). The results showed that SIT group demonstrated significant improvements in peak and average power during the Wingate test (p = 0.07; p < 0.001), along with a notable increase in YoYo-IR2 performance (7.8% increase, p = 0.04). Significant decreases were observed in both mean (5.1% decrease, p = 0.02) and sum RSA time (5.2% decrease, p = 0.02) in the tennis-specific RSA assessments. Additionally, the SIT group showed significantly higher effective training time and TRIMP in the 90-100% HRmax zone compared to the ET group (p < 0.01). This study underscores the potential benefits of low-volume, court-based SIT in enhancing anaerobic capacity and sport-specific performance in competitive tennis players, in comparison to traditional ET.

The effects of different music types on tennis performance among recreational players.

It is known that different types of music used during sports performance has different psycho-physiological effects. In this context, this study aimed to reveal the effect of different types of music on ITN test performance in tennis players. A total of 35 recreational tennis players voluntarily participated in the study. In the research, the ITN test performance of tennis players was measured in three different conditions with 48-hour intervals, these being without music, with motivational music, and with sedative music. The Freidman test was used in the analysis of the data that did not show a normal distribution, and the Repeated Measures ANOVA test was used in the analysis of the data that showed a normal distribution. According to the main findings of the study, it was determined that motivational music increased the ITN test performance of tennis players, while sedative music decreased their ITN test performance (p< .05). Additionally, it was determined that motivational music increased the groundstroke depth scores of tennis players, while sedative music decreased groundstroke depth scores (p< .05). In addition to this, it was determined that volley depth, groundstroke accuracy, and serve scores increased through motivational music (p< .05), whereas sedative music had no effect (p> .05). As a result, it was determined that the ITN test performances of tennis players can be increased through the psycho-physiological effect of motivational music. It can therefore be concluded that the use of motivational music during training and matches (between sets and/or time breaks) of tennis players can increase their shooting performance.

Relationships Between Force-Time Curve Variables and Tennis Serve Performance in Competitive Tennis Players.

ABSTRACT: Fourel, L, Touzard, P, Fadier, M, Arles, L, Deghaies, K, Ozan, S, and Martin, C. Relationships between force-time curve variables and tennis serve performance in competitive tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): 1667-1674, 2024-Practitioners consider the role of the legs in the game of tennis as fundamental to achieve high performance. But, the exact link between leg actions and high-speed and accurate serves still lacks understanding. Here, we investigate the correlation between force-time curve variables during serve leg drive and serve performance indicators. Thirty-six competitive players performed fast serves, on 2 force plates, to measure ground reaction forces (GRF). Correlation coefficients describe the relationships between maximal racket head velocity, impact height, and force-time curve variables. Among all the variables tested, the elapsed time between the instants of maximal vertical and maximal anteroposterior GRF ( r = -0.519, p < 0.001) and the elapsed time between the instant of maximal anteroposterior GRF and ball impact ( r = -0.522, p < 0.001) are the best predictors of maximal racket velocity. Maximal racket head velocity did not significantly correlate with the mean or maximal vertical GRF or with the mean or maximum rate of vertical force development. The best predictor for impact height is the relative net vertical impulse during the concentric phase ( r = 0.772, p < 0.001). This work contributes to a better understanding of the mechanical demands of tennis serve motion and gives guidelines to improve players preparation and performance. Trainers should encourage their players to better synchronize their upward and forward pushing action during the serve to increase maximal racket head velocity. Players should also aim to improve their relative net vertical impulse to increase impact height through strength training and technical instructions.

Para table tennis improves psychological/mental and cardiovascular health in individuals with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Although rehabilitation exercise is known to be beneficial for cardiovascular and mental health, it remains a daunting challenge for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who rely on wheelchairs for mobility. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week para table tennis program in enhancing self-efficacy and health outcomes in adults with SCI. METHODS: A total of 39 SCI patients were included and divided into the experimental group (n = 18, a 4-week para table tennis training program) and the control group (n = 21). Frequency domain indices of heart rate variability (HRV) were used to evaluate the function of the autonomic nervous system. RESULTS: Following para table tennis training, there was a significant reduction in the physical stress index (PSI, P < 0.001), accompanied by shifts in autonomic regulation of vagal dominance. Additionally, the para table tennis training led to significant improvements in vessel state, differential pulse wave index, atrial elasticity, eccentric constriction power, remaining blood volume, and self-efficacy (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Para table tennis training results in favorable changes in sympathetic tone, enhanced self-efficacy, improved cardiovascular well-being, and an overall positive transformation in HRV.

Kinematics of the Tennis Serve Using an Optoelectronic Motion Capture System: Are There Correlations between Joint Angles and Racket Velocity?

The serve is the most important stroke in tennis. It is a complex gesture consisting of numerous rotations with a wide amplitude, which are important to manage for performance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether correlations exist between joint kinematic parameters and racket velocity. A quantitative kinematics analysis of four ranked players (two boys and two girls) was carried out using an optoelectronic system composed of 10 cameras (150 Hz). Five flat serves per player were analyzed. Eighty-two markers were located across the 15 body segments and on the racket. A descriptive statistical analysis including a correlation analysis was carried out between joint angles and racket kinematic parameters (vertical position, velocity, and acceleration) during the cocking and acceleration phases. Ten very high (0.7 < r < 0.9) and three almost perfect (r > 0.9) correlations were found. Shoulder and hip axial rotations, knee flexion, and trunk extension were correlated linearly with racket vertical position and velocity during the cocking phase. For the acceleration phase, elbow flexion, trunk flexion/extension, and trunk axial rotation were linked to racket kinematics. Some of these parameters showed differences between slow and fast serves. These parameters, which are involved in transmitting ball velocity, are important to consider for tennis players and coaches in training programs, education, and performance enhancement.

Brain local stability and network flexibility of table tennis players: a 7T MRI study.

Table tennis players have adaptive visual and sensorimotor networks, which are the key brain regions to acquire environmental information and generate motor output. This study examined 20 table tennis players and 21 control subjects through ultrahigh field 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. First, we measured percentage amplitude of fluctuation across five different frequency bands and found that table tennis players had significantly lower percentage amplitude of fluctuation values than control subjects in 18 brain regions, suggesting enhanced stability of spontaneous brain fluctuation amplitudes in visual and sensorimotor networks. Functional connectional analyses revealed increased static functional connectivity between two sensorimotor nodes and other frontal-parietal regions among table tennis players. Additionally, these players displayed enhanced dynamic functional connectivity coupled with reduced static connectivity between five nodes processing visual and sensory information input, and other large-scale cross-regional areas. These findings highlight that table tennis players undergo neural adaptability through a dual mechanism, characterized by global stability in spontaneous brain fluctuation amplitudes and heightened flexibility in visual sensory networks. Our study offers novel insights into the mechanisms of neural adaptability in athletes, providing a foundation for future efforts to enhance cognitive functions in diverse populations, such as athletes, older adults, and individuals with cognitive impairments.

Interlimb and trunk asymmetry in the frontal plane of table tennis female players.

Background: 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). Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.

Visuomotor coordination with gaze, head and arm movements during table tennis forehand rallies.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the temporal coordination between gaze, head, and arm movements during forehand rallies in table tennis. Collegiate male table tennis players (n = 7) conducted forehand rallies at a constant tempo (100, 120, and 150 bpm) using a metronome. In each tempo condition, participants performed 30 strokes (a total of 90 strokes). Gaze, head, and dominant arm (shoulder, elbow, and wrist) movements were recorded with an eye-tracking device equipped with a Gyro sensor and a 3-D motion capture system. The results showed that the effect of head movements relative to gaze movements was significantly higher than that of eye movements in the three tempo conditions. Our results indicate that head movements are closely associated with gaze movements during rallies. Furthermore, cross-correlation coefficients (CCs) between head and arm movements were more than 0.96 (maximum coefficient: 0.99). In addition, head and arm movements were synchronized during rallies. Finally, CCs between gaze and arm movements were more than 0.74 (maximum coefficient: 0.99), indicating that gaze movements are temporally coordinated with arm movements. Taken together, head movements could play important roles not only in gaze tracking but also in the temporal coordination with arm movements during table tennis forehand rallies.

Differences in visuospatial cognition among table tennis players of different skill levels: an event-related potential study.

This study aimed to examine the influence of sport skill levels on behavioural and neuroelectric performance in visuospatial attention and memory visuospatial tasks were administered to 54 participants, including 18 elite and 18 amateur table tennis players and 18 nonathletes, while event-related potentials were recorded. In all the visuospatial attention and memory conditions, table tennis players displayed faster reaction times than nonathletes, regardless of skill level, although there was no difference in accuracy between groups. In addition, regardless of task conditions, both player groups had a greater P3 amplitude than nonathletes, and elite players exhibited a greater P3 amplitude than amateurs players. The results of this study indicate that table tennis players, irrespective of their skill level, exhibit enhanced visuospatial capabilities. Notably, athletes at the elite level appear to benefit from an augmented allocation of attentional resources when engaging in visuospatial tasks.

Influence of Motor Imagery Modality on First-Serve Performance in Tennis Players.

Motor imagery (MI) is frequently used in tennis players. This pilot study aimed to assess whether the MI modality and preference of skilled tennis players could influence their service performance when using MI before serving first balls. Twenty expert players (Mage = 18.6 years) completed the movement imagery questionnaire (third version) to assess their MI modality scores (internal visual, external visual, and kinesthetic) and their MI preference. Participants completed 4 experimental counterbalanced sessions spread over 4 weeks, each including the completion of 20 first-serve balls in match condition. The sessions included a control condition (i.e., only physical practice trials) and three MI conditions during which the players had to mentally imagine themselves performing a serve according to one of the imagery modalities, either internal visual, external visual, or kinesthetic, before serving. The percentage of success, the speed of the service balls (measured by a tablet with SWING VISION and a radar gun), and an efficiency score were recorded and then evaluated by experts and served as performance indicators and dependent variables. The results of this study showed that players benefited from MI before serving and that almost a third of the participants achieved a higher percentage of success and efficiency scores when using their preferred MI modality. These results lead us, in an applied way, to suggest to skilled tennis players to determine their MI preference and to have recourse to the mental simulation of a successful serve before serving the first balls in match condition.

Coping strategies and brain activity in table tennis players faced with discrepancies between predicted and actual outcomes.

Prior studies have shown that experts possess an excellent ability for action anticipation. However, it is not clear how experts process the discrepancies between predicted outcomes and actual outcomes. Based on Bayesian theory, Experiment 1 in the current study explored this question by categorizing unexpected outcomes into gradually increasing discrepancies and comparing the performance of experts and novices on a congruence discrimination task. Our behavioral analysis revealed that experts outperformed novices significantly in detecting these discrepancies. The following electroencephalogram study in Experiment 2 was conducted focused exclusively on experts to examine the role of theta wave oscillations within the mid-frontal cortex in processing varying levels of discrepancy. The results showed that reaction time and theta oscillations gradually increased as the magnitude of discrepancy increased. These findings indicate that compared to the novices, experts have a better ability to perceptual the discrepancy. Also, the magnitude of discrepancies induced an increase in mid-frontal theta in experts, providing greater flexibility in their response strategies.

The Physical Demands of Wheelchair Tennis Match Play: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair tennis, a globally popular sport, features a professional tour spanning 40 countries and over 160 tournaments. Despite its widespread appeal, information about the physical demands of wheelchair tennis is scattered across various studies, necessitating a comprehensive systematic review to synthesise available data. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to provide a detailed synthesis of the physical demands associated with wheelchair tennis, encompassing diverse factors such as court surfaces, performance levels, sport classes, and sexes. METHODS: We conducted comprehensive searches in the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases, covering articles from inception to March 1, 2023. Forward and backward citation tracking from the included articles was carried out using Scopus, and we established eligibility criteria following the Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design (PECOS) framework. Our study focused on wheelchair tennis players participating at regional, national, or international levels, including both juniors and adults, and open and quad players. We analysed singles and doubles matches and considered sex (male, female), sport class (open, quad), and court surface type (hard, clay, grass) as key comparative points. The outcomes of interest encompassed play duration, on-court movement, stroke performance, and physiological match variables. The selected study designs included observational cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies (baseline data only). We calculated pooled means or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and employed a random-effects meta-analysis with robust variance estimation. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochrane Q and 95% prediction intervals. RESULTS: Our literature search retrieved 643 records, with 24 articles meeting our inclusion criteria. Most available information focused on international male wheelchair tennis players in the open division, primarily competing in singles on hard courts. Key findings (mean [95% CI]) for these players on hard courts were match duration 65.9 min [55.0-78.8], set duration 35.0 min [28.2-43.5], game duration 4.6 min [0.92-23.3], rally duration 6.1 s [3.7-10.2], effective playing time 19.8% [18.9-20.7], and work-to-rest ratio 1:4.1 [1:3.7-1:4.4]. Insufficient data were available to analyse play duration for female players. However, for the available data on hard court matches, the average set duration was 34.8 min [32.5-37.2]. International male players on hard court covered an average distance per match of 3859 m [1917-7768], with mean and peak average forward speeds of 1.06 m/s [0.85-1.32] and 3.55 m/s [2.92-4.31], respectively. These players executed an average of 365.9 [317.2-422.1] strokes per match, 200.6 [134.7-299.0] per set, 25.4 [16.7-38.7] per game, and 3.4 [2.6-4.6] per rally. Insufficient data were available for a meta-analysis of female players' on-court movement and stroke performance. The average and peak heart rates of international male players on hard court were 134.3 [124.2-145.1] and 166.0 [132.7-207.6] beats per minute, and the average match heart rate expressed as a percentage of peak heart rate was 74.7% [46.4-100]. We found no studies concerning regional players or juniors, and only one study on doubles match play. CONCLUSIONS: While we present a comprehensive overview of the physical demands of wheelchair tennis, our understanding predominantly centres around international male players competing on hard courts in the open division. To attain a more comprehensive insight into the sport's physical requirements, future research should prioritise the inclusion of data on female and quad players, juniors, doubles, and matches played on clay and grass court surfaces. Such endeavours will facilitate the development of more tailored and effective training programmes for wheelchair tennis players and coaches. The protocol for this systematic review was registered a priori at the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (Registration https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.3.0060 ).

Quantifying Hitting Load in Racket Sports: A Scoping Review of Key Technologies.

PURPOSE: This scoping review aims to identify the primary racket and arm-mounted technologies based on inertial measurement units that enable the quantification of hitting load in racket sports. METHODS: A comprehensive search of several databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore) and Google search engines was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension for scoping reviews guidelines. Included records primarily focused on monitoring hitting load in racket sports using commercialized racket or arm-mounted inertial sensors through noncompetitive and competitive racket-sports players. RESULTS: A total of 484 records were identified, and 19 finally met the inclusion criteria. The largest number of systems found were compatible with tennis (n = 11), followed by badminton (n = 4), table tennis (n = 2), padel (n = 1), and squash (n = 1). Four sensor locations were identified: grip-attached (n = 8), grip-embedded (n = 6), wrist (n = 3), and dampener sensors (n = 2). Among the tennis sensors, only 4 out of the 11 (36.4%) demonstrated excellent reliability (>.85) in monitoring the number of shots hit either during analytic drills or during simulated matches. None of the other racket-sports sensors have undergone successful, reliable validation for hitting-volume quantification. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent advancements in this field, the quantification of hitting volume in racket sports remains a challenge, with only a limited number of tennis devices demonstrating reliable results. Thus, further progress in technology and research is essential to develop comprehensive solutions that adequately address these specific requirements.

TacPrint: Visualizing the Biomechanical Fingerprint in Table Tennis.

Table tennis is a sport that demands high levels of technical proficiency and body coordination from players. Biomechanical fingerprints can provide valuable insights into players' habitual movement patterns and characteristics, allowing them to identify and improve technical weaknesses. Despite the potential, few studies have developed effective methods for generating such fingerprints. To address this gap, we propose TacPrint, a framework for generating a biomechanical fingerprint for each player. TacPrint leverages machine learning techniques to extract comprehensive features from biomechanics data collected by inertial measurement units (IMU) and employs the attention mechanism to enhance model interpretability. After generating fingerprints, TacPrint provides a visualization system to facilitate the exploration and investigation of these fingerprints. In order to validate the effectiveness of the framework, we designed an experiment to evaluate the model's performance and conducted a case study with the system. The results of our experiment demonstrated the high accuracy and effectiveness of the model. Additionally, we discussed the potential of TacPrint to be extended to other sports.

The Effect of a Table Tennis Exercise Program With a Task-Oriented Approach on Visual Perception and Motor Performance of Adolescents With Developmental Coordination Disorder.

In this study we investigated the effects of an 8-week table tennis exercise program with a task-oriented approach on visual perception and motor performance of 31 adolescents with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The participants were identified by their teachers as having greater difficulty than their peers (450 students from three Korean middle schools) in physical education (PE) classes. On the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, these adolescents scored below the 15th percentile and showed difficulties in performing daily life activities due to motor performance problems; they did not have physical defects, intellectual or neurological impairments, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Of 98 prospective adolescents with PE difficulties, we obtained personal assent and parents' informed consent from 54, and 31 of these met screening criteria for DCD through the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-Korean. This final group was divided in non-random fashion (based on the proximal geographic grouping of the children's schools) between an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in the 8-week task-oriented table tennis training program with three 90-minute sessions per week, while the control group only participated in regular PE classes twice per week. We measured participants' visual perception and motor performance in the same environment before and after the intervention program. Participants' visual perception was significantly more improved in the experimental group than the control group, with specific improved skills in visual-motor search, visual-motor speed, figure-ground, and visual closure; copying and perceptual constancy skills did not improve significantly. In addition, total motor performance and motor sub-skills, including fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility were significantly more improved in the experimental group than in the control group. Thus, our task-oriented table tennis exercise program was of greater assistance than general PE classes for improving visual perception and motor performance in adolescents at risk of DCD.

Mechanisms of Action Anticipation in Table Tennis Players: A Multivoxel Pattern Analysis Study.

An exceptional ability to accurately anticipate an opponent's action is paramount for competitive athletes and highlights their experiential mastery. Despite conventional associations of action observation with specific brain regions, neuroimaging discrepancies persist. To explore the brain regions and neural mechanisms undergirding action anticipation, we compared distinct brain activation patterns involved in table tennis serve anticipation of expert table tennis athletes vs. non-experts by using both univariate analysis and multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA). We collected functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 29 table tennis experts and 34 non-experts as they pressed a button to predict the trajectory of a ball in a table tennis serve video truncated at the moment of racket-ball contact vs. pressing any button while viewing a static image of the first video frame. MVPA was applied to assess whether it could accurately differentiate experts from non-experts. MVPA results indicated moderate accuracy (90.48%) for differentiating experts from non-experts. Brain regions contributing most to the differentiation included the left cerebellum, the vermis, the right middle temporal pole, the inferior parietal cortex, the bilateral paracentral lobule, and the left supplementary motor area. The findings suggest that brain regions associated with cognitive conflict monitoring and motor cognition contribute to the action anticipation ability of expert table tennis players.

Is Anticipation Skill Learning Bayesian?

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the learning of anticipation skill in the presence of kinematic and outcome probabilities information, and to see if this learning exhibited characteristics of Bayesian integration. Method: Participants with no competitive tennis playing experience watched tennis player stimuli playing forehand tennis shots and were tasked with predicted shot outcomes. Accuracy, response times and perceived task effort were recorded, pre, post and during four acquisition blocks where outcome feedback was provided. In both Experiment 1 and 2, kinematic information about shot direction was either present in the training group stimuli or absent. In Experiment 1, left/right shot probability information remained equi-probable for both groups. In Experiment 2, both groups also trained with a bias in the shot outcome probability toward one shot direction on 80% of the trials across acquisition blocks (and were not told about this manipulation). Results: Pre-to-post anticipation performance improved in the presence of kinematic (EXP 1) or both information sources (EXP 2). Pre-to-post improvements in the presence of shot outcome probability information were congruent with the bias in the shot direction trained (EXP 2). Superior anticipation performance was found when both information sources were present. The presence of kinematic information resulted in increased perceived effort during early training (EXP 1 & 2). Bayesian odds ratios indicated that shot direction probabilities and kinematic information were integrated during anticipation skill learning. Conclusion: Learning with shot direction probabilities and kinematic information shows characteristics of Bayesian integration.