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Table Tennis and Knees

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Ashley Duns
Ashley Duns Asked 13 years ago

Hi All. I come from a tennis background, having played at a high level since I was about 12. I'm now 32 and headed for my second knee operation in 15 months. I tore the meniscal cartlidge in my right knee, and now my left. So I'm seriously thinking about making the switch to table tennis. BUT, is table tennis any easier on your knees? The tennis serve puts a lot of pressure on my knees, and obviously you don't run as far during a table tennis match. But I don't want to swap if TT is just as tough. Both times I injured my knees I was running backwards for a smash - something you don't do in tt. Any advice welcome.

Update: Saw the surgeon yesterday, and my competitive tennis days are over unfortunately, so he encouraged a switch to table tennis. But is it any easier on your body, especially knees?

Alois Rosario
Member Badge Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Ashley,

I don't know that it is easier on the knees but it a sport that you can play with bad knees.  I mean that you will be able to adjust your game so that you don't have to move as much whereas in Tennis there is no option.

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Duncan Wraight

Duncan Wraight Posted 13 years ago

I have a serious knee injury - three operations, both sides of my meniscus trimmed and an undiagnosed cruciate tear. My knee swells up fairly regularly after intense practice.

My observations are this:

  • You *do* use your knees a lot in Table Tennis.. every coach/website will recommend that you bend your knees to receive and there's quite a bit of bending involved with trying to topsin loop backspins (a type of shot offensive players will use regularly against defensive players)
  • There *isn't* much impact on the knees.. you don't have to stamp or run
  • There *is* quite a lot of twisting, but nothing that has - thus far - had a lasting detrimental impact on my knee

In actuality I've found TT to be the most enjoyable method of slowly (but surely) strengthening my quads.

Ashley Duns

Ashley Duns Posted 13 years ago

Thanks so much for replying Alois.

It's great to know that I'll be able to play some kind of competitive sport with slightly bung knees! I'm not certainly not aiming to become an Olympian!

I've joined a gym to do other work to strengthen them up, so I'm sure that will help too.

I'm now in the process of chosing a bat. It seems like Stiga AllAround Classic with Mark V rubbers seems as good a place as any to start.

On another note, I live in Melbourne, in fact quite near Coburg Table Tennis Club, but MSAC is an option for me too. Is it easy to find a coach to give me some private lessons to get me going with the right technique? I imagine I'll be tempted to just "play tennis" on a table.

 

Alois Rosario

Member Badge Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 13 years ago

Hi Ashley,

There is a lot of good coaching at the Coburg club.  Just enquire with Bruce at the counter.  He will help you out.

Ashley Duns

Ashley Duns Posted 13 years ago

Thanks Duncan. I've had both my menisces trimmed too. But I'm hoping my ACL is fine!

Good to hear that you're still able to play and that you don't find it's put too much pressure on your knees.

I think with a bit of gym work I should be ok.

eduardo espinosa

eduardo espinosa Posted 13 years ago Latest

Hello, Mr. Duns. As long as you play with only one hand.

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