Proposed modification of the playing area in table tennis for wheelchair players (C3).

BACKGROUND

Short balls near the net in wheelchair table tennis reduce rally continuity and may increase injury risk due to biomechanical constraints and the limited forward reach of wheelchair players. Modifying the effective playing area may improve rally dynamics and enhance playing safety.

METHODS

Twenty wheelchair table tennis players (class C3; mean age = 26.5 ± 3 years) participated in a repeated-measures quasi-experimental study. Players first competed on the official table and then on a modified table after completing an 8-week familiarisation training program. The modification introduced a safety line 20 cm from the net on both sides, reducing the effective playing depth from 113.5 cm to 93.5 cm per side. Ten matches were conducted under each condition. Performance was analysed using video analysis. The recorded variables included total and effective playing time, number of ace serves, average rally duration, strokes per rally and the work-to-rest ratio. Differences between conditions were examined using a paired samples t-test.

RESULTS

Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between the official and modified tables. The modified table increased total and effective playing time, rally duration, strokes per rally and the work-to-rest ratio, while the number of ace serves decreased, indicating improved rally continuity and longer exchanges.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified table improved rally continuity and gameplay dynamics among wheelchair players and may reduce the likelihood of upper-limb injuries, supporting its potential value for training and competitive performance.