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

Francisco Pradas, Ignacio Ara, Víctor Toro and Javier Courel-Ibáñez
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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

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-11

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.

Keywords: healthy growth; childhood; exercise; leisure-time physical activity; racket sport (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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