Injury profile, Biomechanical Hazards, and Holistic Health Benefits of Table Tennis: A narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.61.72955Keywords
table tennis, sport injuries, biomechanics, injury prevention, neurorehabilitation, Parkinson diseaseAbstract
Background: Table tennis is a dynamic, asymmetrical racket sport with low acute injury rates. However, repetitive execution of technically demanding strokes exposures athletes to significant biomechanical loading and overuse disorders.
Aim: This review evaluates table tennis injury epidemiology, biomechanical mechanisms of overuse syndromes, preventive strategies, and the physical, cognitive, and neurorehabilitative benefits of participation.
Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on contemporary studies and landmark publications relevant to injury mechanisms, prevention, and health benefits.
Results: Epidemiological data show a low overall injury incidence (~3.6%, or 10 injuries per 1,000 exposure hours), with over 50% occurring during training. Repetitive topspin forehand and backhand strokes increase loading on the shoulder, upper extremity, and lumbopelvic region, contributing to overuse disorders. Prevention strategies emphasize core stability, muscular symmetry correction, eccentric strengthening, load monitoring, and recovery. Beyond competition, table tennis induces favorable cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive adaptations, enhancing neuroplasticity. Emerging evidence supports table tennis-based interventions for Parkinson’s disease, showing improvements in balance, motor performance, and mobility.
Conclusions: Table tennis poses distinct biomechanical challenges but offers substantial health benefits. Targeted prevention is essential for competitive athletes, while recreational play serves as a safe, engaging activity supporting cognitive health and healthy aging.
References
1. Ko SH, Cha JR, Lee CC, Kim MS, Park KB. Musculoskeletal injuries in table tennis during competition: a systematic review. Int J Sports Med. 2024;45(4):267-271. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2175-6509
2. Biz C, Puce L, Slimani M, Salamh P, Dhahbi W, Bragazzi NL, et al. Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Table-Tennis-Related Injuries: Findings from a Scoping Review of the Literature. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(5):572. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58050572
3. Wong DWC, Lee WCC, Lam WK. Biomechanics of Table Tennis: A Systematic Scoping Review of Playing Levels and Maneuvers. Appl Sci. 2020;10(15):5203. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155203
4. Zeng Y, Jin X, Wang Q, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders and asymmetric muscle development in professional table tennis players. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2023;36(4):815-824. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-220087
5. Bankosz Z, Winiarski S. Correlations between angular velocities in selected joints and velocity of table tennis racket during topspin forehand and backhand. J Sports Sci Med. 2018;17(2):330-338. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5950751/
6. Barczyk-Pawelec K, Dziubek W, Wojcieszczyk-Borek A, et al. Asymmetry of the trunk and pelvic alignment in elite table tennis players. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(9):5532. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095532
7. Bańkosz Z, Barczyk-Pawelec K. Habitual and ready positions in female table tennis players and their relation to the prevalence of back pain. PeerJ. 2020;8:e9170. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9170
8. Steib S, Rahlf AL, Pfeifer K, Zech A. Dose-response relationship of neuromuscular training for injury prevention in youth athletes: a meta-analysis. Front Physiol. 2017;8:920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00920
9. Pradas F, de la Torre A, Castellar C, Toro-Román V. Physiological profile, metabolic response and temporal structure in elite individual table tennis: differences according to gender. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(22):11898. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211898
10. Lauersen JB, Andersen TE, Andersen LB. The effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent sports injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(4):224-233. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093218
11. Cools AM, Johansson FR, Borms D, et al. Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021;25(5):502-511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.01.002
12. Rio E, Kidgell D, Purdam C, et al. Isometric exercise induces analgesia and reduces inhibition in patellar tendinopathy. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(19):1277-1283. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-094386
13. Fullagar HH, Skorski S, Duffield R, et al. Sleep and athletic performance: the effects of sleep loss on exercise performance and physiological outputs. Sports Med. 2023;53(2):311-324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01783-z
14. Wiewelhove T, Döweling A, Schneider C, et al. A meta-analysis of the effects of foam rolling on performance and recovery. Front Physiol. 2019;10:376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00376
15. Moustakas L, Patzsch K. Table Tennis for Health and Wellbeing: A Rapid Scoping Review. Sports. 2026;14(2):63. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14020063
16. Wei JN, Zhang MK, Wang Z, Liu Y, Zhang J. Table tennis experience enhances motor control in older adults: insights into sensorimotor-related cortical connectivity. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2024;24(2):100464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100464
17. Kondrič M. The Physiological Demands of Table Tennis: A Review. J Sports Sci Med. 2013;12(3):362-370. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3772576/
18. Niemann C, Godde B, Voelcker-Rehage C. Open-skill versus closed-skill sports in improving executive functions and neuroplasticity in older adults: the case of table tennis. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022;14:910403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.910403
19. Liu W, Ye S, Cao Y, Li Y, Gao Y, Zhao M, et al. Brain local stability and network flexibility of table tennis players: a 7T MRI study. Cereb Cortex. 2024;34(6):bhae264. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae264
20. Bańkosz Z, Hawrylak A, Kołodziej M, Murinova L, Barczyk-Pawelec K. Interlimb and trunk asymmetry in the frontal plane of table tennis female players. PeerJ. 2024;12:e17526. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17526
21. To-Aj O, Bumrungpanictarworn A, Liauw F. Comparing competitive and recreational table tennis training: impacts on quality of life in older adults—a randomized controlled trial. F1000Research. 2025;14:89. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.160396.2
22. Khalid A, Khalid R. The effects of table tennis on motor function and cognitive performance in Parkinson's disease. Cureus. 2025;17(11):e96383. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.96383
23. Moriyama N, Nagaoka T, Ogawa T, et al. Effect of table tennis exercise on motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: a prospective pilot study. Clin Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2021;5:100104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prdoa.2021.100104
24. Inoue K, Fujioka S, Nagaki K, et al. Table tennis for patients with Parkinson's disease: A single-center, prospective pilot study. Clin Park Relat Disord. 2021;4:100086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prdoa.2020.100086
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Filip Chmielnicki, Gabriela Chwajta, Gabriela Kaczor, Barbara Cepielik, Weronika Cichocka, Gabriela Pirga, Martyna Antos, Kacper Paczosa, Klaudia Jędruszko, Dominika Budzeń
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 128
Number of citations: 0
