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.
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