Spinal mobility in elite table tennis players

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess spinal mobility in elite table tennis players compared to non athletes. METHODS: The research was conducted on a group of 20 table tennis players from Polish Ekstraklasa league clubs (study group). The control group consisted of 20 students, who did not practice any sport. Cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine mobility in the sagittal and transverse planes was measured using a Saunders inclinometer (Saunders Group Ltd, Tbilisi, Georgia). The author's questionnaire was also used to examine whether physical activity can have an effect on the prevalence of spinal pain, and body position and region in which the pain occurs. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between the groups were observed in flexion and extension of the intervertebral disc space between the spinous processes of the twelfth thoracic vertebra and the first lumbar vertebra and extension of the intervertebral disc space between the spinous processes of the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra and the midpoint of the sacral bone. CONCLUSIONS: The study group of young table tennis players of the Polish Ekstraklasa League had better ranges of motion in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in the sagittal and transverse planes compared to their non-athlete peers. Further research is needed to determine whether table tennis can alter spinal mobility in other spinal segments and planes of motion.