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Individualized Physical Conditioning Based on Heart Rate Variability and Workload Monitoring in Table Tennis Players
Sponsor: The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice
Summary
This study compares two 12-week conditioning programs in 48 competitive table tennis players. Players were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group followed an individualized conditioning program in which training intensity, volume, and content were adjusted weekly according to each athlete's morning heart-rate variability (HRV, 5-minute supine rMSSD) and acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) computed from session-RPE training load. On days when HRV fell more than one standard deviation below the athlete's rolling 7-day average, high-intensity components were replaced with low-intensity work. The control group followed a standardized conditioning program matched for session frequency (three integrated sessions per week for 12 weeks, no individualized monitoring feedback). The program progressed through eight phases (foundation, accumulation, deload, intensification, transition, taper I-II, peak/post-test). Both groups were assessed before and after the intervention on 24 measures of neuromuscular performance (jump height, reactive strength index, rate of force development, force asymmetry, EMG onset latency and peak amplitude), sensorimotor performance (simple and saccadic reaction time, movement time, balance), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max, heart-rate recovery, blood lactate), and competitive match performance (win rate, stroke accuracy, placement accuracy, rally efficiency, ball speed, national ranking points). The primary outcome is simple reaction time. The study tests whether readiness-guided individualization improves performance more than standardized conditioning. The study protocol, dataset, and analysis code are openly available in the Zenodo repository (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21343993).
Official title: Individualized Physical Conditioning Based on Training Monitoring in Table Tennis Players: Effects on Neuromuscular, Sensorimotor, and Competitive Performance Indicators in a 12-Week Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
Any - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
48
Start Date
2025-06-02
Completion Date
2026-05-20
Last Updated
2026-10-07
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Individualized conditioning program
Twelve week progressive conditioning intervention in which training intensity, volume, and content were adjusted weekly according to each athlete's morning heart rate variability (5 minute supine rMSSD) and acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) computed from session RPE training load. Components included reactive strength and plyometric training, post-activation potentiation protocols (back squat at 80-87% 1RM followed by countermovement jumps), lateral change of direction drills with progressive cognitive loading (verbal, visual, and ball feed stimuli), and perceptual motor circuits. On days when HRV fell more than one standard deviation below the rolling 7 day average, high intensity components were replaced with low intensity footwork or mobility work. Delivered as three integrated sessions per week (30-100 minutes, group mean 69 minutes).
Standardized conditioning program
Standard table tennis training consistent with the athletes' pre study routine, delivered as three sessions per week (approximately 80-85 minutes each), incorporating multi ball technical drills, match play, and general fitness conditioning (aerobic endurance and strength endurance circuits). No individualized load monitoring feedback was provided, no reactive, post-activation potentiation, or perceptual decision protocols were prescribed, and no systematic phase based overload or taper structure was applied. Content remained uniform across all 12 weeks, matched to the experimental group in session frequency.
Locations (1)
Academy of Physical Education in Katowice
Katowice, Poland