Current Situation And The Reasons For Scoliosis Of Table Tennis Players

Purposes:The aim of this study was to acquire and analyze the information of age,scoliosis,cervical mobility and muscle strength of table tennis players,and to describe the status of spine abnormality and explore related factors.Methods:A total of 201 table tennis players(128 males,73 females)from juvenile class of China Table Tennis College and national team two participated in this study,aged 9 to24 years old.All subjects were assessed by curvature of the scoliosis,the three-dimensional mobility of the cervical spine,and the grip force of both hands.Results:There were significant differences in the lateral curvature of the male table tennis players in different age groups(P <0.05).As for males,the scoliosis of the13-year-old age group was significantly higher than that of other age groups.There were significant differences in the lateral scoliosis between male and female players(P <0.05).The lateral scoliosis increased with age,while the higher age players of the national team two showed lower curvature of the scoliosis.On the degree of cervical vertebra activity of male players,there were significant differences between anterior and posterior flexion of cervical spine(P <0.01),and 14-year-old group showed a large difference on it.The cervical activity decreased as the age increased,while the higher age group of the national team two showed higher cervical activity.There were significant differences in the grip strength of table tennis players in different age groups(P <0.01),and there were significant differences between the grip force of hitting arms and non-hitting arms(P <0.01).The grip force of both hands of male players are significantly correlated with left and right curvature of cervical spine,horizontal rotation activity of cervical spine(P <0.01).Conclusions:1.The training of table tennis may lead to scoliosis,and the age of 13 is the sensitive period of male athletes.2.Male and female athletes are inconstant on the scoliosis.3.Appropriate intervention and training could relieve scoliosis and improve performance of players.4.Athlete's cervical activity are related to table tennis training,and unjustified training will lead to reduced cervical activity.Male athletes should pay attention to anterior and posterior flexion of cervical spine in particular,especially at the age of 14.Cervical activity is also a limiting factor for the improvement of table tennis.5.The grip force increased with age,and there are significant difference between the hitting are and non-hitting arm,while this difference is not the main cause of scoliosis.