Author(s): DELUMEAU, T., PLOT, C., LE CARPENTIER, E., MOUSSEAU, P., Institution: NANTES UNIVERSITÉ, Country: FRANCE, Abstract-ID: 2125

INTRODUCTION:
Table tennis player performance has already been defined in the literature by several aspects such as tactics, equipment, and technique. Ball quality of stroke could be one of them, especially ball speed, rotation, or even precision. Few studies have investigated the relationship between those indicators on different stroke conditions and under neuromuscular or mental fatigue which has been proven to be an influential factor in stroke performance. This study aims to observe the effect of fatigue on the relationship between these performance indicators and their evolution in fatigue.
METHODS:
Nine young table tennis players men (age :15 ±1.5y; French ranking points: 2103±344) from a French table tennis national centre were selected to perform three experimental trials in a randomized order: a control session, a neuromuscular fatigue session, and a mental fatigue session. Neuromuscular fatigue was induced in biceps brachii. Participants realized ten biceps eccentric contractions with a load of 90% of their 1RM until they reached a 15% loss of their reference MVC. Mental fatigue session consisted of a mentally fatiguing task (90 min AX-CPT test), while the control session required participants to watch a 90 min neutral movie. Each session, athletes had to realize a pre/post table tennis performance test. Players had to perform four exercises using backhand and forehand strokes with backspin and topspin balls. They had to hit thirty balls thrown by a ball launcher. Players must hit the ball cross-court aiming for targets on either side of the table. Ball speed, spin, impact position, and racket acceleration profile were measured during the tests. Subjective feeling of Fatigue and perceived exertion levels were assessed during the sessions.
RESULTS:
. Measured RPE and feeling of fatigue were significantly higher post Neuromuscular and Mental fatigue protocols. First results, shows that the ball spin appears to be highly correlated with ball speed (r=0.96, p<0.001) even under fatigue conditions. Ball speed was also observed slightly correlated with maximum racket acceleration (r=0.62, p<0.001). Ball speed and spin determine stroke conditions and ranges. Results suggest that forehand topspin produces a fastest ball speed and spin (12 m·s⁻¹,100 rps to 16.6 m·s⁻¹, 130 rps) , contrary to the backhand backspin which shows the lowest values (8.33 m·s⁻¹ ,60 rps to 10 m·s⁻¹ ,80rps). No significant effects of neuromuscular or mental fatigue on group performance were observed, possibly due to individual differences among players.
CONCLUSION:
These first results suggest that mental or neuromuscular fatigue was induced with success. Observation of the preliminary results implies that the ball speed /spin relationship seems not affected by the player’s fatigue. The determination of the range of speed/spin combination could lead to the design specific of training programs for the players. Further analysis may be needed to conclude properly the effect of fatigue on performance indicators.