This study aimed to investigate the impact of different foot support patterns on knee joint loading in elite table tennis athletes. Eighteen right-handed with shake-hand grip, national I level table tennis athletes were included. Their average age was 20.33 ± 1.53 years, with a height of 1.73 ± 0.08 meters, weight of 66.75 ± 9.35 kilograms, and 11.67 ± 1.81 years of training experience. The athletes performed forehand loop strokes using different support patterns: alternating support pattern (ASP) and full-foot support pattern (FSP). Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using 8 infrared cameras and 3 force plates. Compared to the ASP, the FSP significantly reduced heel-to-forefoot rotation angle (−30.67%), knee compressive force (−9.14%), knee extension moments (−13.94%), hip (−5.6%) and thorax (−3.8%) Z-axis angular speed, but increased free moment by 19.92%. The moment graph also revealed the FSP had a higher knee internal rotation moment (0%∼69%) and external rotation moment (70%∼100%), as well as a higher hip external rotation moment (6%∼64%). The FSP decreased athletic performance and increased knee joint load during the forehand loop. It is recommended that athletes avoid using the FSP during training or competition.

Footwork plays a crucial role in the stroke performance of athletes, yet its underlying foot support patterns remain underexplored. This study aimed to compare the biomechanical differences in lower limb joints between alternating foot support pattern (ASP) and full-foot support pattern (FSP) in table tennis footwork. Twelve national level I male table tennis athletes participated in a within-subject design, performing both foot support patterns. Compared with ASP, FSP showed significantly lower peak hip power generation (10.38 ± 1.42 W/kg), lower ankle power generation and absorption, with reduced ankle rates of change. In addition, the relative contribution of ankle power generation (1.25 ± 1.60%) decreased, leading to a higher combined contribution of the hip (93.62 ± 3.76%) and ankle (4.96 ± 4.46%) joints. The peak time of ankle power absorption was significantly delayed. By contrast, the relative contributions of hip and knee power generation were higher in FSP than in ASP. Overall, hip joint function serves as the primary source of positive work in both ASP and FSP. FSP reduced ankle joint contribution, with the hip and knee joints compensating for this limitation during the stroke. Athletes should actively adjust their movements according to the characteristics of the foot support pattern.

Baseball hitting involves multiple biomechanical variables, and understanding their impact on bat energy is crucial for improving performance. However, no studies have explored how biomechanical features affect hitting performance from the perspective of bat energy. This study aimed to systematically investigate the influence of lower limb biomechanical variables on bat energy using factor analysis and stepwise regression methods. Sixteen right-handed baseball players participated in the study. Bilateral lower limb kinematic and kinetic features were calculated and exported using a motion capture system and force platform. Six key factors (F1–F6) were extracted from the 28 biomechanical features. Factors F1 and F5 are correlated with the rotation of the trailing and leading limbs, respectively; F2 correlates with energy production of the leading limb; F3 correlates with linear momentum production; F4 correlates with body posture control; and F6 correlates with body linear movement in the anterior direction. To enhance bat energy, hitters should step towards the incoming ball more rapidly to increase ground reaction force on the leading limb. They should also maximize extension and external rotation of both the leading and trailing limbs, stabilize the trailing limb during body rotation, and ensure proper weight distribution between the leading and trailing limbs.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical role of plantar pressure distribution in generating racket velocity during the topspin forehand in table tennis players, with particular emphasis on its relationship with stroke kinematics and performance level. (2) Methods: The study involved 14 male table tennis players divided into Elite and Sub-Elite athletes. Each participant performed a topspin forehand stroke. The study employed a biomechanical analysis combining inertial motion capture and plantar pressure measurement to assess the relationship between lower limb loading and racket velocity during the topspin forehand. (3) Results: The statistical evidence supports the subsequent phase-by-phase comparisons, indicating that the Elite (EL) and Sub-Elite players (SE) differ in execution of the topspin forehand, and the Elite group achieved significantly higher racket speed values in all phases (e.g., in hitting phase: SE-13.8 m/s, EL-15.6 m/s, p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.0; in post-impact follow-through phase: SE-13.8 m/s, El-16.1 m/s, ≤0.001, d = 1.3) and exhibited also a different pattern of foot loading. An analysis of the correlation between the plantar pressure and velocity of the racket in individual events revealed numerous significant correlations. (4) Conclusions: The study identified numerous correlations between the maximum plantar pressure and the maximum racket speed in the individual phases of the stroke. This demonstrates the active involvement of the feet throughout the entire kinematic chain of the topspin forehand stroke and highlights the importance of foot coordination for the outcome of this stroke, namely the speed of the racket-wielding arm.