The effects of table tennis on the eyesight of primary and middle school students: A meta-analysis
Abstract
Objective: To systematically evaluate the influence of table tennis on the eyesight of primary and secondary school students. Methods: Literature research was conducted by computerized search of CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials on table tennis exercise on students’ visual health. Traditional Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed sequentially using Stata 17.0 and Review Manager 5.4 (RevMan5.4 for short). Results: A total of 11 papers with 670 study participants were included for analysis. The effect of table tennis exercise on students’ visual acuity improvement was statistically significant in the experimental group compared to the control group, whose total effect of the literature showed that the left eye [SMD = 1.41, 95% CI (0.95, 1.87), Z = 6.02, P < 0.001] and the right eye [SMD = 1.59, 95% CI (1.08, 2.11), Z = 6.07, P < 0.001] ; subgroup analysis also showed that table tennis sport intervened on left eye vision [SMD = 1.51, 95% CI (0.89, 2.13), P < 0.001] and right eye vision [SMD = 1.72, 95% CI (1.01, 2.42), P < 0.001] in primary school students versus table tennis sport in secondary school students’ left eye vision [SMD = 1.23, 95% CI (0.68, 1.78), P < 0.001], and right eye visual acuity [SMD =1.33, 95% CI (0.99, 1.67), P < 0.001] were statistically significant for prevention and protection of vision. Conclusion: Table tennis exercise interventions have been shown to have a positive effect on preventing and protecting the visual health of primary and secondary school students, and different table tennis exercise cycles, exercise duration, and frequency of exercise and other sports also have a significant effect on preventing and protecting the visual health of primary and secondary school students.
References
1. Gifford KL, Richdale K, Kang P, et al. IMI—Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2019; 60(3): M184. doi: 10.1167/iovs.18-25977
2. Ohno-Matsui K, Wu PC, Yamashiro K, et al. IMI Pathologic Myopia. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2021; 62(5): 5. doi: 10.1167/iovs.62.5.5
3. Rudnicka AR, Kapetanakis VV, Wathern AK, et al. Global variations and time trends in the prevalence of childhood myopia, a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis: implications for aetiology and early prevention. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2016; 100(7): 882–890. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-307724
4. Ostrin LA, Harb E, Nickla DL, et al. IMI—The Dynamic Choroid: New Insights, Challenges, and Potential Significance for Human Myopia. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2023; 64(6): 4. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.6.4
5. Flitcroft I, Ainsworth J, Chia A, et al. IMI—Management and Investigation of High Myopia in Infants and Young Children. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2023; 64(6): 3. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.6.3
6. Wolffsohn JS, Calossi A, Cho P, et al. Global trends in myopia management attitudes and strategies in clinical practice – 2019 Update. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. 2020; 43(1): 9–17. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2019.11.002
7. Bogdali A, Jarczak J, Urbaniak A, et al. Evaluation of the association between lifestyle risk factors for myopia development and the prevalence of nearsightedness among young adults. Klinika Oczna. 2019; 2019(2): 15–19. doi: 10.5114/ko.2019.86948
8. Morgan IG, Ohno-Matsui K, Saw SM. Myopia. The Lancet (9827). 2012: 1739–1748.
9. Fitzgerald MEC, Wildsoet CF, Reiner A. Temporal Relationship of Choroidal Blood Flow and Thickness Changes during Recovery from Form Deprivation Myopia in Chicks. Experimental Eye Research. 2002; 74(5): 561–570. doi: 10.1006/exer.2002.1142
10. Jacobsen N, Jensen H, Goldschmidt E. Does the Level of Physical Activity in University Students Influence Development and Progression of Myopia?—A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2008; 49(4): 1322. doi: 10.1167/iovs.07-1144
11. O’Donoghue L, Kapetanankis VV, McClelland JF, et al. Risk Factors for Childhood Myopia: Findings from the NICER Study. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2015; 56(3): 1524–1530. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-15549
12. French AN, Ashby RS, Morgan IG, et al. Time outdoors and the prevention of myopia. Experimental Eye Research. 2013; 114: 58–68. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2013.04.018
13. Liu J, Lan W, Zhang D. Network meta-analysis of the efficacy of physical exercise interventions on vision health in children and adolescents. Frontiers in Public Health. 2024; 12. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1393909
14. Cao KX. Study on the influence of table tennis skills Learning on visual fatigue and visual acuity level of myopic senior high school students [Master’s thesis]. Shanghai University of Sport; 2023.
15. Chen YL, Liu LL, Ding NJ. The application and practice of table tennis prescription to improve the vision of primary school students. World of Sports (Academic Edition). 2018; 11: 194–195. doi: 10.16730/j.cnki.61-1019/g8.2018.11.133
16. Guo XP, Ge SS, Liu RH, Hou XL. An experimental study on sensitivity and visual acuity of middle school students in table tennis. Anhui Sports Science and Technology. 2012; 04: 87–89.
17. Hong YX. An analysis of the practical effects of table tennis on improving the eyesight of primary school students. Questions and Research. 2019; 21: 60.
18. Hu ZX. A comparative analysis of the influence of table tennis, basketball and middle-distance running on children’s vision. Contemporary Sports Science and Technology. 2015; 1: 210–211. doi: 10.16655/j.cnki.2095-2813.2015.01.131
19. Huang WF. The influence of table tennis on the vision of 6–11-year-old children with myopia [Master’s thesis]. Hunan University of Technology; 2022.
20. Song SX, Wang FY, Li YH. (2002). A comparative study on the influence of table tennis on eyesight of young children. Chinese sports science and technology. 2002; 11: 19–20. doi: 10.16470/j.carol carroll SST. 2002.11.006.
21. Wang YH. Observation on the effect of 18-week table tennis exercise on improving the vision of primary school students. In: Proceedings of the 4th National Fitness Science and Sports Exchange Conference and International Academic Forum on Sports and Health; 2023. pp. 166.
22. Xiao BJ. Experimental comparison between table tennis and middle distance running on improvement of false myopia in 7–8-year-old primary school students [Master’s thesis]. Shandong University of Physical Education; 2012.
23. Zhang JS, Li LX. Influence of table tennis on visual acuity of children with pseudomyopia. Journal of Tonghua Normal University. 2010; 08: 54–55. doi: 10.13877/j.cnki.cn22-1284.2010.08.029.
24. Zhang ZY. An experimental study on the effect of table tennis practice on improving the vision of children with myopia [Master’s thesis]. Shanxi Normal University; 2014.
25. Mutti Donald O, Mitchell GL, Moeschberger ML, et al. Parental myopia, near work, school achievement, and children’s refractive error. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 2002; 12: 3633–3640.
26. Khader YS, Batayha WQ, Abdul-Aziz SMI, Al-Shiekh-Khalil MI. (2006). Prevalence and risk indicators of myopia among schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan. Eastern Mediterranean health journal. 2006; (3–4): 434–439.
27. Jones LA, Sinnott LT, Mutti DO, et al. Parental History of Myopia, Sports and Outdoor Activities, and Future Myopia. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2007; 48(8): 3524. doi: 10.1167/iovs.06-1118
28. Nickla DL, Wallman J. The multifunctional choroid. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 2009; 29(2): 144–168. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2009.12.002
29. Xiong S, Sankaridurg P, Naduvilath T, et al. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta‐analysis and systematic review. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2017; 95(6): 551–566. doi: 10.1111/aos.13403
30. Suhr Thykjær A, Lundberg K, Grauslund J. Physical activity in relation to development and progression of myopia – a systematic review. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2016; 95(7): 651–659. doi: 10.1111/aos.13316
31. Smith EL, Hung LF, Huang J. Protective Effects of High Ambient Lighting on the Development of Form-Deprivation Myopia in Rhesus Monkeys. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2012; 53(1): 421. doi: 10.1167/iovs.11-8652
32. Tideman JWL, Polling JR, Jaddoe VWV, et al. Environmental Risk Factors Can Reduce Axial Length Elongation and Myopia Incidence in 6- to 9-Year-Old Children. Ophthalmology. 2019; 126(1): 127–136. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.06.029
33. Gao Y, Chen L, Yang S nan, et al. Contributions of Visuo-oculomotor Abilities to Interceptive Skills in Sports. Optometry and Vision Science. 2015; 92(6): 679–689. doi: 10.1097/opx.0000000000000599
34. Read SA, Collins MJ. The short-term influence of exercise on axial length and intraocular pressure. Eye. 2011; 25(6): 767–774. doi: 10.1038/eye.2011.54
Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright on all articles published in this journal is retained by the author(s), while the author(s) grant the publisher as the original publisher to publish the article.
Articles published in this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, which means they can be shared, adapted and distributed provided that the original published version is cited.
Submit a Paper
