BIOLOGICAL SEX DIFFERENCES IN TABLE TENNIS BIOMECHANICS WITH IMPLICATIONS ON INJURY MECHANISM

Table tennis is a highly competitive fast sport that places high stress on the joints, leading to a variety of injuries that differ between the sexes. This study aims to evaluate differences in table tennis hip joint loading and anatomical shape on accumulative bone and tissue damage between professional male and female table tennis athletes using finite element computational approaches. Statistical shape analysis was performed using the GIAS 3 toolbox (Geometry Image-Analysis Statistics). Principal component analysis (PCA) of 35 female and 35 male intraperitoneal segmented geometries were registered and aligned prior to shape analysis. Mean female and male hip models from PCA were used to build finite element models in Abaqus. The side-step movement was simulated in Abaqus during the Chasse-step, which is associated with the largest transverse ground reaction forces and is most associated with ligament and soft tissue injuries. It was observed that during the peak lateral hip force movement both male and female models exhibited a pattern of high contact pressure towards the distal femoral contact region. However, the male showed one distinct contact zone, whereas the female showed two contact zones at the hip. The female peak contact pressure was lower with 4.6MPa, contrasted with the higher 5.8MPa shown in the male model. Given differences in shape and joint pressure between male and female athletes, computational models may help coaches inform training strategies based on injury mechanisms.