Table Tennis Injuries

[azlan]

Okay guys, we have so many threads about TT skills and techniques. Here I would like to discuss one of the major setbacks of TT, and that are injuries.

The reason why I'm doing this thread is that I have this niggling left knee injury for years that stopped me from bending my knees low (where my knees would just buckled and I will end up just sitting on the floor), and also it stopped me doing my inside out FH cross court shot (the shot made famous by WLQ where he would move to his BH side, and rip a big FH cross court), which I think is the main reason why I had the injury in the first place.

I went to a physio quite a number of times but it never really go away. He told me how the injury occurred. Whenever I do the inside out FH, I am using my left leg as a stopping mechanism for my movement to left. With my left leg stretched out, I will then take a swing at the ball. Because of my body rotation, my left knee turned on it's axis, BUT my left foot is still planted on the ground supporting my weight. And this occurred for over over 25 years. And now, I am paying the price. At my age, it takes time to heal, if ever.

As you can see, WLQ actually turned his left foot outwards, which allows him to bend his knees for the extra cushion and flexibility. Often in tournaments over the years, I failed to do that, which means my left foot is actually facing my opponents (hence twisting of the knees happened).
My injury is MCL or Medial Collateral Ligament Injury.

If you guys ever experienced this before or any type of TT associated injuries, do share. I know Dan had quite a serious one

 

[dici]

I'm mostly getting injury from play basketball instead of playing TT. But there is once I over turn my wrist (yeah I know this sounds so stupid) and I hurt my wrist during playing badminton. It almost feels like I almost tear my muscle tendon.

But regard the TT, I think at some point, my shoulder will accumulate from my FH swing and start become worst..

 

[olvarox]

I currently have trouble at the inside of my ankles. Orthopaedic soles to put in my shoes should do the trick here. But I also need to rest since both my ankles have inflamed.

Sometimes I get a lot of trouble of my left hip, crawling up my spine.

My shoulder ligaments can't bear the big 'high-in-the-air' smashes too much.

Gosh, I'm only 30 years old and I have a body of a 60 year-old.


Osteopathy and Chiropraxy have done some wonderfull things for my spine and hip though. Definately a good idea

 

[strangeloop]

Thanks for this thread.. I had been wanting to ask this.. I felt some pain on the outside of my leg, just below my left knee this past saturday.. I stopped playing.. gave it some rest and it seems ok now. I am very interested to learn about TT related injuries and injury prevention measures such as physical exercise, correct technique.. Thanks again Azlan!

 

[dici]

For knee and ankle part, if you feel not right, best advice I could give is always bring knee pad and elastic bandage. I have all these stuff in my gym bag with me all the time. If this week I feel my knee got something, I just wear knee pad. If I feel like ankle going to sprain, then just wrap it up. These two definitely will help you release some pain and stress on your leg to some point >.>

 

[PlasmaLight]

both knees, right shoulder and back ... nothing more to say

 

[skywalker]

Hi Azlan,

I am not sure your situation, for me, I have Tennis Elbow (tendon injury) when I changed from Penhold to Shakehand 1.5 year ago, went to see Othopedic few times and having injection and physical therapy treatment, all doesn't work, recently friend introduced a China Doctor which already stationed in Malaysia for many years, he is famous with a kind of treatment which is similar to Acupuncture, I can't find the translation in English, but is really works, right now after 1 month of treatment, I can feel that the pain totally gone, I plan to rest for half year then start to pick up ping pong. If you would like to know more, please let me know, the place is in Klang.

 

[Justchill]

You're not alone..


- Left knee injury: quadriceps tendinosis

Been doing exercises for months and playing a lot less, like only 20-35 minutes only a week. It's chronic and it doesn't really get better..

- right hand injury: tendinitis

This got better by using my left hand for computer usage.

- back injury: damaged spine

Doesn't really get better. When I sit for a long time, it hurts, but when I play TT I doesn't really bother me.


My advice: when you feel some abnormal pain... stop doing whatever is causing that pain and give your body rest. Ice can never hurt.

Cheers!

 

[azlan]

Hi Azlan,

I am not sure your situation, for me, I have Tennis Elbow (tendon injury) when I changed from Penhold to Shakehand 1.5 year ago, went to see Othopedic few times and having injection and physical therapy treatment, all doesn't work, recently friend introduced a China Doctor which already stationed in Malaysia for many years, he is famous with a kind of treatment which is similar to Acupuncture, I can't find the translation in English, but is really works, right now after 1 month of treatment, I can feel that the pain totally gone, I plan to rest for half year then start to pick up ping pong. If you would like to know more, please let me know, the place is in Klang.

Thanx buddy. I just might take on your offer Yeah, I had tennis elbow a few times from playing tennis. It's an annoying injury, don't you think?

You're not alone..


- Left knee injury: quadriceps tendinosis

Been doing exercises for months and playing a lot less, like only 20-35 minutes only a week. It's chronic and it doesn't really get better..

- right hand injury: tendinitis

This got better by using my left hand for computer usage.

- back injury: damaged spine

Doesn't really get better. When I sit for a long time, it hurts, but when I play TT I doesn't really bother me.


My advice: when you feel some abnormal pain... stop doing whatever is causing that pain and give your body rest. Ice can never hurt.

Cheers!

Sound advice Justchill. The minute an injury occur, ice is the best. The damaged spine injury really 'uurrrgggh' me hehehe

 

[azlan]

Thanks for this thread.. I had been wanting to ask this.. I felt some pain on the outside of my leg, just below my left knee this past saturday.. I stopped playing.. gave it some rest and it seems ok now. I am very interested to learn about TT related injuries and injury prevention measures such as physical exercise, correct technique.. Thanks again Azlan!

No worries strangeloop. Usually tendon or muscle injuries occur when they're stretched beyond their limit, or stretched the way it not supposed to be stretched, like twisting for instance. It's quite common, cause during a game, sometimes we have to improvise without even thinking. Majority of the injuries, especially in amateur TT is that we don't get proper training on how to execute certain footwork or stroke. Over time the strain on that particular muscle became unbearable and it will inflame. Normally a good rest is the best remedy, and of course, plenty of ice.

As you will probably know, warming up and warming down is as important as the training itself. Make it a habit, and you'll be laughing when you're 50 and still be able to compete without having any major injuries.

 

[vitaniya]

if it be an ankle ligament problem,it is really a ticklish matter~~~~

 

[Der_Echte]

I have put my body through enough punishment living in ghettos as a youth and in almost 3 decades of the kind of abuse we put ourselves through in the military. Usually after two decades, everyone "taps out" (American UFC term for submission to give up the fight). I continued on with about zero injuries of significance. However, the last few years have seen the end of my ability to abuse my body the same way day in and day out in military. I also play 3-5 hours daily. That has advantages and also negatives. One of the negatives is that some days, no matter how good wood court every Korean club has, wear and tear of the knees affects my Patella (the area uner your knee cap and some days it is so accute that I cannot walk down a hill or down stairs without significant pain. it is a price to pay for my love to play TT and make progress. I am maybe Azlan's age in mid 40s. I have done everything I can do except "clean up" the joints with arthoscopic surgury or German/Korean cell injection therapy. I find if I can keep wieght under 87 kg, then I have less pain, if I stick to TT only for sport. I love basketball, but if I play more than every two weeks, I will be in a wheelchair.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Okay guys. I am 47. I was a professional rollerblader. I did a ramp stunt show with 11 other skaters for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus for 2 years between 1996-1998. I have dislocated both shoulders, I have partially dislocated my left hip, and my right hip has a decent amount of arthritis because when I would launch in the air and be 10 feet above a 12 foot high ramp, if I knew I was not going to land a stunt, I would aim for my right hip because the landing was softer than if I aimed for the knee pads.

I have been playing table tennis now for almost 3 years. And none of those injuries bother me. Why? I do yoga.

Okay, it is more complicated than that. I know what I am doing. I know when a joint needs to be strengthened, how to strengthen it. I know when a joint needs to be stretched, how to stretch it. Every so often I get a nagging injury and then I take care of it and it goes away. If you do the right things you might not need to rest an injury unless it gets too bad. There are ways of playing through certain types of injuries while keeping them protected.

The knees are a hard issue. Azlan, the injury you are describing sounds like you need to strengthen the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, and continue doing open chain movements for your knee that do not create torc on the knee joint. If the weak area in the knee is the lateral aspect of the knee, you need to strengthen the lateral aspect of the quads and hamstrings. If it is the medial aspect of the knee, you need to strengthen the medial aspect of the quads and hamstring. At the same time you need to keep doing exercises that help your range of motion in flexion.

What I actually do is too complicated to explain in an email and since you are on a different continent it would be hard. But, if you get exercises from your physical therapist and do them on your own several days a week, that will help.

The injuries do not necessarily go away. But you can make it so they do not interfere with your daily life or your ability to play.

I still feel my once-upon-a-time dislocated shoulders and my messed up hips, but they do not bother me. And I stretch them and work them in the ways they need to be taken care of on a daily basis. And that means that, on days that I can, I can play up to 8-10 hours of Table Tennis and feel fine. I play 5-6 days a week. 4 days a week I play 1-3 hours. And on the weekends I play around 8 hours each day (unless my wife and daughter have other plans for me).

Things like acupuncture and intelligent strength training can be great. Things like certain massage techniques like acupressure or shiatsu, in the hands of a skilled practitioner can be great.

The important thing, in my opinion, though, is to know what you need to work and what you need to stretch and how much. And if you do that consistently, that knee, or that tennis elbow, or that shoulder, will be good to go.

I plan to be playing like this when I am 57 as well.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

PS. Too bad you did not see how Wang Liqin moves his feet with the weight transfer years ago.

Best of luck in helping that heal.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Here is a good video where you can see Ma Lin moving for a forehand from the backhand side and how he moves his feet as part of the weight transfer in the stroke .

 

[azlan]

Thanx guys... Like Carl said strengthening the associated muscles I think will certainly help. Great point D_E regarding the weight issue. I have to admit, I have put on a bit of weight around my midriff, and it's something I need to lose fast. Great points guys, and I appreciate them. You guys are the best!

 

[skywalker]

Yes, Azlan, my tennis elbow now has becoming chronic pain, ice is good in the preliminary stage of pain, however rest for some times is the best idea after threatment. For prevention, if you feel pain at the beginnng, it is advice to stop playing and take a rest to prevent condition become worse.

 

[azlan]

Yes, Azlan, my tennis elbow now has becoming chronic pain, ice is good in the preliminary stage of pain, however rest for some times is the best idea after threatment. For prevention, if you feel pain at the beginnng, it is advice to stop playing and take a rest to prevent condition become worse.

Thanx buddy. Sound advice. But I have a very big problem. I can't stay away from TT very long. The longest was 3 days hahahaha

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

It is easy to search exercises that are good for helping tennis elbow. It is worth it. I know ones that are more effective than the ones I see on line. But they are fine. It is worth searching and doing the exercises that help tennis elbow get better.

 

[phillypong]

i have had a torn knee ligament and had a ACL reconstruction this year , it was cuased by playing soccer , now after 5 months i start to walk normally again but i still play TT with a big knee brace and will continue to do so until the end of this year.

the most important things to do to prevent knee injuries are imo : a warm up and also quadriceps and hamstring exercises to strenghten these muscles

oh and also : DONT play soccer , it has caused my knee injury (first time was about 4 years ago and now in october 2011), dont run long distances , it will wear your knees out too