Effects of performance level on lower limb kinematics during table tennis forehand loop

Understanding of biomechanics is important in performance development since each skill has a fundamental mechanical structure. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in lower limb kinematics during table tennis forehand loop between superior players (SP) and intermediate players (IP). Thirteen male players as superior and thirteen as intermediate participated in this test. A VICON motion analysis system and a Novel Pedar insole plantar pressure measurement system were used to record kinematic and contact area data respectively. Participants were asked to execute single forehand loop against topspin ball with maximal power. Key findings were that SP showed significantly larger hip flexion and knee external rotation at backward-end and larger hip internal rotation and extension at forward-end compared with IP. Contact areas at both events were larger for SP. In addition, SP showed significantly larger joints angular changing rate during forward swing at the ankle and hip. Results indicated that SP possessed better ability of using lower limb drive in forehand loop.