Forehand movement and shoulder muscle analysis in elite table tennis players
Official title: Motion and Electromyographic Analysis of the Forehand Topspin Against Topspin, Forehand Topspin Against Backspin, Forehand Stroke, and Forehand Attack in Elite Table Tennis Players
Run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University · NCT07446283 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test how shoulder and trunk muscle activity and body motion differ during four forehand strokes in elite table tennis players and whether those patterns differ in players with shoulder injuries.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 13 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Taipei, Taiwan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 2, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07446283 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are elite table tennis players aged 13–40 who competed in the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Ranking Tournament or the National Table Tennis Championships within the past three years, have at least four years of experience, and train more than 10 hours per week.
✕Probably not a fit
Recreational players, athletes outside the 13–40 age range, those with recent upper limb surgery or fracture, recent spine injury, systemic disease, pregnancy, or neurological complications are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study will recruit elite table tennis players aged 13–40 who have national-level competition experience and at least four years of play. Participants will perform four forehand stroke types while researchers record full-body trunk kinematics with motion capture and shoulder and trunk muscle activity with surface electromyography. The study will compare muscle activation levels, timing of muscle recruitment, and joint and trunk motion between stroke types and between players with and without shoulder injuries. Results are intended to inform daily training and rehabilitation approaches to reduce sports injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could identify specific movement and muscle-activation patterns to guide training and rehab programs aimed at reducing shoulder injuries in elite players.
How similar studies have gone: Biomechanical and EMG studies of racket and paddle sports have characterized stroke mechanics previously, but directly comparing elite players with and without shoulder injuries using combined motion capture and EMG is less common.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where it's running
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National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Yin-Liang Lin — National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Study coordinator: Yin-Liang Lin
- Email: yllin1020@nycu.edu.tw
- Phone: +886-2-28267288
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.