Aspects of the postural alignment and plantar structure in junior female table tennis players

Abstract

The purpose of the present scientific research in performance table tennis at the level of junior female athletes was to determine the postural alignment and structure of the foot sole at static level, in order to create an amelioration
program specific to kinetotherapy in the future, in case of identifying deficiencies.
Hypothesis: It is assumed that by using modern means of assessing posture and plantar footprints at dynamic level,
we can identify the correlations between them in order to facilitate effective compensation systems.
The aim of this research is to improve the quality of life and sports performance in junior female table tennis
players.
Methods: The assessment of body posture and plantar footprint was performed by using images, using the freeStep
software by Sensor Medica and the assessment of the static plantar pressure and surface was performed by using
the FreeMedbaropodometric platform. The study was conducted on a group of 9 female table tennis athletes with
ages between 10 and 12 years old. The deviations from the normal postural and plantar values were calculated with
IBM SPSS Statistics software, Version 23.
Results and Conclusions: The values (p <0.001 <α = 0.05) for the left sole, respectively (p = 0.001 <α = 0.05) for the right sole, highlight significant differences between the total plantar area and the reference value on both soles of the foot, from the postural assessment resulting a significant difference between the group values and the reference value for all measurements (p <0.001 <α = 0.05).