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Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(14): 1055-1062
DOI: 10.1055/a-0752-4224
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Association of Trunk Rotational Velocity with Spine Mobility and Curvatures in Para Table Tennis Players

Erika Zemková
1   Department of Sports Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
2   Sports Technology Institute, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia
3   Institute of Physiotherapy, Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia
,
José María Muyor
4   Laboratory of Kinesiology, Biomechanics and Ergonomics, Faculty of Education Sciences, Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Almeria, Spain
,
Michal Jeleň
2   Sports Technology Institute, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Publication History



accepted 24 September 2018

Publication Date:
16 November 2018 (online)

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Abstract

This study investigates the relationship of trunk rotational velocity with mobility and curvature of the spine in wheelchair table tennis players. Eleven para table tennis players and 13 able-bodied athletes performed 5 seated trunk rotations to each side with 1 kg barbell placed on the shoulders. Trunk rotational velocity and respective angular displacement were significantly lower in para table tennis players compared to able-bodied athletes. Both groups showed similar values of thoracic kyphosis. However, para table tennis players exhibited lower lumbar inversion and pelvic retroversion compared to able-bodied athletes. Peak and mean velocity in the acceleration phase of trunk rotation correlated with angular displacement in both para table tennis players (r=0.912, p=0.001; r=0.819, p=0.013) and able-bodied athletes (r=0.790, p=0.026; r=0.673, p=0.032). These velocity values were also associated with lumbar curvature (r=-0.787, p=0.003; r=− 0.713, p=0.009) and pelvic tilt angle (r=0.694, p=0.014; r=0.746, p=0.007) in para table tennis players. Findings indicate that slower velocity of trunk rotations in para table tennis players might be due to their limited range of trunk rotational motion. Decreased posterior concavity could also contribute to these lower values. However, other biomechanical factors may have an impact on the association between these variables and have yet to be documented.

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Key words

able-bodied athletes - angular displacement - thoracic and lumbar spine - velocity of trunk rotation - wheelchair athletes
 

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