Mechanisms and Prevention of Upper Limb Injuries in Table Tennis

Arm injuries, particularly affecting the elbow and shoulder joints, represent a significant burden for table tennis players across all skill levels. Driven by the sport's demands for rapid, forceful, and repetitive upper limb movements, injuries such as lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), medial epicondylitis ("golfer's elbow"), rotator cuff tendinopathy, and labral tears are prevalent. This paper comprehensively analyzes the current evidence on vulnerable anatomical structures, biomechanical mechanisms of injury, major risk factors (including equipment mismatch, technical defects, and training errors), and evidence-based prevention strategies. The analysis of the results showed that the injuries were caused by chronic overload, dynamic instability, and compensatory movements inherent in specific hitting movements (such as forearm pronation during forehand pull and shoulder over position during spike). Effective prevention requires multiple measures, including optimizing hitting movements through biomechanical analysis, implementing structured strength and fitness training programs that focus on centrifugal control and scapular stability, ensuring appropriate equipment adaptation (especially grip size), adopting reasonable load management, and incorporating specialized recovery plans. This evidence-based framework provides a basis for athletes, coaches, and medical professionals to reduce injury risks and promote sustainable participation in table tennis.