Table Tennis: Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Analysis of Match and Exercise in Elite Junior National Players
Click name to view affiliation
Search for other papers by Billy Sperlich in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Karsten Koehler in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Hans-Christer Holmberg in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Christoph Zinner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Joachim Mester in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Purpose:
The aim of the study was to determine the cardiorespiratory and metabolic characteristics during intense and moderate table tennis (TT) training, as well as during actual match play conditions.
Methods:
Blood lactate concentration (Lac), heart rate (HR, beats per minute [bpm]), oxygen uptake (VO2), and energy expenditure (EE) in 7 male participants of the German junior national team (age: 14 ± 1 y, weight: 60.5 ± 5.6 kg height; 165 ± 8 cm) were examined during six training sessions (TS) and during an international match. The VO2 was measured continuously with portable gas analyzers. Lac was assessed every 1 to 3 min during short breaks.
Results:
Mean (peak) values for Lac, HR, VO2, and EE during the TS were 1.2 ± 0.7 (4.5) mmol·L–1, 135 ± 18 (184) bpm, 23.5 ± 7.3 (43.0) mL·kg–1· min–1, and 6.8 ± 2.0 (11.2) METs, respectively. During match play, mean (peak) values were 1.1 ± 0.2 (1.6) mmol·L–1, 126 ± 22 (189) bpm, 25.6 ± 10.1 (45.9) mL·kg–1·min–1, and 4.8 ± 1.4 (9.6) METs, respectively.
Conclusions:
For the frst time, cardiorespiratory and metabolic data in elite junior table tennis have been documented demonstrating low cardiorespiratory and metabolic demands during TT training and match play in internationally competing juniors.
Billy Sperlich is with the Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sports University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Karsten Koehler is with the Institute of Biochemistry and the German Research Centre of Elite Sports, German Sport University, Cologne, Cologne, Germany.Hans-Christer Holmberg is with the Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden. Christoph Zinner and Joachim Mesterare each with the Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics and the German Research Centre of Elite Sports, the German Sports University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
© 2023 Human Kinetics