A Comparative Biomechanical Analysis Of The Performance Level On Chasse Step And Cross Step In Table Tennis

Objective: Initial observations have indicated that each movement pattern or skill set has a fundamental mechanical structure.The purpose of this study was to examine biomechanical characteristics in chasse step and cross step movement patterns between the professional athletes(PA)and the beginner players(BP).Methods: Great amount of data was obtained for comparison by capturing kinematic and kinetic information of the dominant foot using the Oxford Foot Model(OFM)during the table tennis strokes.Nine male PA and nine BP(all with dominant right feet)participated in a table tennis footwork test.A Vicon motion analysis system and a Novel Pedar insole plantar pressure measurement system were used to record kinematic and kinetic data,respectively.Results: In the chasse step,PA not only showed significantly larger forefoot and rear-foot dorsiflexion,but also demonstrated larger hallux plantarflexion.In addition,they also showed significantly larger forefoot abduction and rear-foot internal rotation than BP at the chasse step end.Also,PA showed significantly larger forefoot inversion and abduction at the forward-end of the step.Peak pressure values were higher under the lateral forefoot,and the medial and lateral rear-foot with faster changes in angular velocity recorded for PA during the chasse step phase.Greater peak pressures were also recorded under the other toes,and in the central and lateral forefoot during the forward swing phase when compared to BP.In addition,PA showed significantly greater relative load on the other toes and on the lateral forefoot during the entire step motion.In the cross step,PA showed significant larger forefoot inversion and adduction,but significant smaller forefoot dorsiflexion.In addition,they also showed significant larger hindfoot dorsiflexion and internal rotation as well as significant larger hallux dorsiflexion than BP.In this study,compared with BP,PA demonstrated apparently faster angle change rate,but smaller range of motion.PA showed significantly greater relative load on the other toes,lateral forefoot and rear foot.Conclusion: PA and BP show different biomechanical characteristics in the process of completing different footwork.Those findings might help coaches and beginners to comprehend the internal mechanisms of the footwork technique and help guide BP to improve the mechanical efficiency of performance.