The effects of muscle fatigue on shoulder proprioception and forehand stroke accuracy in Chinese elite table tennis athletes

Abstract This study explores the relationship between shoulder proprioception and landing point accuracy in Chinese elite table tennis athletes, particularly under fatigue conditions. A total of 19 male athletes participated, with their shoulder proprioception tested using an ISOMED 2000 isokinetic muscle tester. The tester measured proprioception acuity in both pre-fatigue and post-fatigue conditions, alongside performance in a hitting task assessed with a high-speed serve machine. Results indicated a significant correlation between proprioception and stroke performance, especially in internal and external rotation directions (p < 0.01). After fatigue, proprioception in both the racket-holding and non-racket-holding hands significantly decreased in internal and external rotations (p < 0.01 for both hands), with no significant change in vertical extension (VE). Additionally, the performance of the hitting task after fatigue significantly declined in the racket-holding hand (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that shoulder proprioception plays a crucial role in stroke accuracy and fatigue recovery, providing valuable insights for training, rehabilitation, and performance optimization in table tennis.