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Benefits of Regular Table Tennis Practice in Body Composition and Physical Fitness Compared to Physically Active Children Aged 10–11 Years

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco Pradas

    (Research Group Training, Physical Activity and Sports Performance (ENFYRED), University of Zaragoza, 22003 Huesca, Spain)

  • Ignacio Ara

    (Research Group Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD), Toledo Research Group, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain)

  • Víctor Toro

    (Department of Physiology, Faculty of Sports Science Faculty, University of Extremadura, University Avenue, 10003 Cáceres, Spain)

  • Javier Courel-Ibáñez

    (Department of Physical Activity and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the differences in body composition and physical fitness between children who played table tennis regularly during a two-year period compared to physically active children who were not engaged in a regular activity. Three hundred seventy-four children aged 10 to 11 years were divided into two groups: table tennis players ( n = 109 boys and 73 girls) and physically active group ( n = 88 boys and 104 girls). Anthropometric analysis included body mass index, skinfolds, perimeters and bone diameters. Somatotype and body composition were determined according to age-specific equations. Physical fitness assessment included hand grip dynamometry (strength), sit-and-reach test (range of movement) and maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test (cardiovascular fitness). The result show that children who regularly played table tennis had greater bone development and superior physical fitness compared to those who were physically active but not engaged in a regular physical activity. This is the largest study to date presenting data about the potential of table tennis to benefit health in children. These results constitute an important first step in clarifying the effectiveness of table tennis as a health-promotion strategy to encourage children to undertake regular physical activity and limit sedentary behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Pradas & Ignacio Ara & Víctor Toro & Javier Courel-Ibáñez, 2021. "Benefits of Regular Table Tennis Practice in Body Composition and Physical Fitness Compared to Physically Active Children Aged 10–11 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2854-:d:514894
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elżbieta Biernat & Sonia Buchholtz & Justyna Krzepota, 2018. "Eye on the Ball: Table Tennis as a Pro-Health Form of Leisure-Time Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Beata Pluta & Szymon Galas & Magdalena Krzykała & Marcin Andrzejewski, 2020. "The Motor and Leisure Time Conditioning of Young Table Tennis Players’ Physical Fitness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Carlos Castellar & Francisco Pradas & Luis Carrasco & Ana De La Torre & José Antonio González-Jurado, 2019. "Analysis of reaction time and lateral displacements in national level table tennis players: are they predictive of sport performance?," International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(4), pages 467-477, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Pradas & Ana de la Torre & Carlos Castellar & Víctor Toro-Román, 2021. "Physiological Profile, Metabolic Response and Temporal Structure in Elite Individual Table Tennis: Differences According to Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-11, November.
    2. Bernardino J. Sánchez-Alcaraz & Javier Courel-Ibáñez, 2022. "The Role of Padel in Improving Physical Fitness and Health Promotion: Progress, Limitations, and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Francisco Pradas & Víctor Toro-Román & Ana de la Torre & Alejandro Moreno-Azze & Juan Francisco Gutiérrez-Betancur & Miguel Ángel Ortega-Zayas, 2022. "Analysis of Specific Physical Fitness in High-Level Table Tennis Players—Sex Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Jon Mikel Picabea & Jesús Cámara & Javier Yanci, 2021. "Physical Fitness Profiling of National Category Table Tennis Players: Implication for Health and Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Amir Hossein Haghighi & Ali Zaferanieh & Seyed Alireza Hosseini-Kakhak & Ali Maleki & Fabio Esposito & Emiliano Cè & Carlos Castellar & Víctor Toro-Román & Francisco Pradas, 2021. "Effects of Power and Ballistic Training on Table Tennis Players’ Electromyography Changes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Jon Mikel Picabea & Jesús Cámara & Javier Yanci, 2022. "Heart Rate Response, Temporal Structure and the Stroke Technique Distribution in Table Tennis National Category Matches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Francisco Pradas & Víctor Toro-Román & Miguel Ángel Ortega-Zayas & Duber Mary Montoya-Suárez & Bernardino Javier Sánchez-Alcaraz & Diego Muñoz, 2022. "Physical Fitness and Upper Limb Asymmetry in Young Padel Players: Differences between Genders and Categories," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, May.

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