Investigating the Relationship between Feed-Forward Postural Control and Constant and Variable Error of Coincident Anticipation Timing Task: Study of Skilled and Novice Table Tennis Players

Optimal performance of complex Forehand stroke needs coordination between postural adjustment and focal movement. the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between onset time and magnitude of Anticipatory Postural Adjustment (APA) and constant and variable error of Table Tennis Forehand stroke among skilled and novice players. For this, skilled (n=10) and novice (n=10) participants, perform Forehand stroke under Coincident Anticipation Timing (CAT) paradigm and EMG of selected postural muscles were simultaneously recorded. The results of investigating the EMG data showed that in all postural muscles, APA was occurred before focal movement initiation. In addition, the results of two way MANOVA test showed that in comparison with novices, skilled players had higher accuracy and lower variable error in their performance (P<0.05). Also, the result of Pearson moment correlation test revealed that among skilled players, both early onset time and greater magnitude of APA correlated with higher accuracy (P<0.05); however, only the APA’s onset time correlated significantly with both accuracy and variability of novices’ performance (P<0.05). Lower variable error in skilled players’ performance in comparison to novice counterparts and yet lack of correlation with onset time and magnitude of APA, probably indicates the consolidation of internal models as a result of practice and long term experience of skilled players in that sports skills.