Effects of exercise training on physical fitness of youth table tennis players: a systematic review

Background – Exercise training is essential for table tennis players, as identifying the most effective approach to enhance their physical fitness is crucial. Methods – Following the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 10 studies were included from 102 records identified through PubMed, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar (from inception to February 2026). Methodological quality, assessed using the PEDro scale, yielded a ranged from four to six, indicating acceptable research rigor and relatively reliable findings. Results – The findings indicate that strength (n = 9) and speed (n = 7) are the most frequently targeted attributes in training interventions, followed by agility (n = 5), flexibility (n = 5), and endurance (n = 4). The majority of studies support the effectiveness of exercise training in enhancing physical fitness among young table tennis players. However, inconsistencies remain regarding the extent of training-induced improvements in strength, speed, and endurance. Conclusion – This review demonstrates that exercise training programs are most effective for the fitness of youth table tennis players. Such training methods can improve athletes’ speed, strength, endurance, agility, flexibility showing clear advantages over traditional training approaches. However, current studies are limited by heterogeneity in training protocols and age groups, and a lack of long-term follow-up data. Future studies should employ standardized protocols, and long-term follow-up to determine optimal training strategies for youth table tennis athletes. Systematic Review Registration – https://inplasy.com, identififier INPLASY202530064.

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