Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: May | Volume: 10 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 34-39
Effectiveness of Upper Extremity Proprioceptive Training on Reaction Time in Table Tennis Players
Chaitrali Bokil1, Richa Bisen2, Khyati Kalra3
1B.P.Th, SKN College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India
2MPT in Orthopaedics and Manual Therapy, Assistant Professor, Electrotherapy and Electro diagnosis Department, SKN College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India
3Assistant Professor cum Statistician, Department of Community Medicine, SKN Medical College & General Hospital, Pune, India
Corresponding Author: Chaitrali Bokil
ABSTRACT
Background: Table tennis is a dynamic sport and is known to be one of the fastest ball games. It has been proven that table tennis requires a short reaction time for success but there is a lack of evidence on the different types of exercises that can improve reaction time in table tennis players.
Objective: To study the effectiveness of upper extremity proprioceptive training on reaction time in table tennis players.
Methods: 34 Table tennis players, both males and females in the age group of 7-15 were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: Control Group (n=17) and Experimental Group (n=17) by lottery method. The reaction time of all the players was measured using the ruler drop test. The control group underwent a conventional training whereas the experimental group underwent an additional proprioception training along with conventional training for 6 weeks. The reaction times of the players were measured again at the end of 6 weeks.
Results: When compared within the group, the reaction time did not show a significant statistical difference in the Control group (p>0.05) whereas the reaction time significantly decreased in the experimental group (p<0.05). When compared between the groups, reaction time showed a significant statistical difference between the Control and Experimental group (p<0.05) indicating that Experimental group produced a significantly shorter reaction time than the Control group at the end of 6 weeks.
Conclusion: This study shows that upper extremity proprioceptive training along with conventional training helps to improve reaction time in table tennis players.
Key words: Table tennis, reaction time, proprioceptive training, ruler drop test