Parkinson's and Table Tennis Article
Following Article Written by Annie Stone, Table Tennis England, Dated - February 17, 2022
'Bringing benefits to people with Parkinson’s through table tennis'
Table Tennis England is committed to grow and retain participation among those living with a disability and/or long-term health condition. For this reason we have developed partnerships with organisations such as Parkinson’s Table Tennis UK (PDTTUK), with the aim to promote and enable more opportunities for players to engage in the sport, and for those who wish to do so, to feel comfortable to progress through to competitive play.
A review has recently been conducted, summarising highlights of the journey of this partnership, showcasing case studies of how people living with Parkinsons’ have benefitted from playing table tennis and looking to the future how we can engage new audiences.,
Link to Full Article - https://www.tabletennisengland.co.uk/bringing-benefits-to-people-with-parkinsons-through-table-tennis/
‘’GREAT SPORTING OPTIONS IN YOUR 50S AND 60S
Sport is for the young. That’s a sentiment expressed far too often. IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THIS – SPORT IS FOR EVERYONE.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some enjoyable sporting options available for those heading into retirement age, or for those already there.
Table Tennis:
Tennis is another great option for those that are 50+ but TABLE TENNIS is an even better one. While standard tennis requires a lot of running around, table tennis does not require the same level of athleticism. It can improve your reaction speed and does work up a sweat when played at a fast tempo. Like bowling table tennis can be played as part of a team, with doubles tournaments proving popular’’
Quotation from the Australian Over 50s Magazine -https://australianoverfifties.com.au/great-sporting-options-in-your-50s-and-60s/
'Table tennis tables are common in schools, youth clubs, health centres and even workplaces.Table tennis has a long list of incredible health benefits that very few people are aware of. The sport continues to grow year on year and is one of the few sports that anyone from any age can play risk-free and with ease.
The low-impact sport of table tennis stimulates many areas of the brain simultaneously and offers a huge range of mental benefits even for patients who suffer from Alzheimers and dementia. We have been intrigued by the benefits of table tennis for a while here at Home Leisure Direct and so we decided to create this easy-to-follow infographic for your convenience.
If you like this infographic please spread the word. The more people we get to realise the benefits of the sport the more people we can get to play. The aim is to carry on our school's program for table tennis and hopefully implement them into many more schools and youth clubs over the next year.'
Go to this link for an awesome infographic from Home Leisure Direct.
Here are some links to more articles on the health benefits of Table Tennis:
Health Benefits of Table Tennis - https://www.killerspin.com/blogs/unplugnplay/health-benefits-of-table-tennis
Dr Miriam Stoppard: Why table tennis is great for the brain - https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/news/dr-miriam-stoppard-why-table-tennis-is-great-for-the-brain/
Taking the Paddle to Parkinson's - https://www.metrosportsmag.com/single-post/2017/09/06/Taking-the-Paddle-to-Parkinsons
Why Ping-Pong Is Good for Your Brain - https://www.treehugger.com/ping-pong-good-for-brain-4868449
Recreational Table Tennis for Seniors
Only a third of seniors over 55 years of age are meeting national guidelines for minimal levels of regular physical activity. While many of them (approximately 44%) are prevented from participating due to injury and disability, others report lack of opportunities, facilities and clubs in their area (Source: Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing, 2013). Compared to the rest of the population, seniors face a higher risk of social isolation, physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle linked to chronic health disorders.
Table tennis is a global sport. Japan, US and UK in particular (via the NHS) promote the health benefits of table tennis to their older population. It is a social game that can be played at any age and modifiable to fit most fitness levels.
There is mounting scientific evidence on the holistic benefits of table tennis, such as better cardiovascular health and cognitive performance, as well as gains in emotional and social outcomes in older adults (Source: Harvard Medical School, 2016; Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions, 2018).
Scientific evidence and medical experts around the world acknowledge that recreational table tennis increases concentration and alertness, stimulates brain function, helps with the development of tactical thinking skills, hand/eye coordination, provides aerobic exercise and social and recreational interaction. The sport is therefore important in combating neuro-cognitive decline and promoting mental well-being, particularly in the elderly, and often prescribed as a therapeutic option for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (Source: Dr. Amen, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology).
Excerpt from Article - http://illawarrasportsstadium.com.au/f/new-recreational-program-for-seniors
Top 10 Health Benefits of Ping Pong / Table Tennis
Article By Health Fitness Revolution - https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-ping-pongtable-tennis/
Whether you’re playing doubles or singles, table tennis, or ping pong, can be a fast-paced competitive sport. In fact, when played at an intense rate, it can be a great way to burn calories and get fit.
Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic:
- Playing improves hand-eye coordination and it stimulates mental alertness, concentration and tactical strategy. This makes it the perfect game for young people to sharpen reflexes, and for older people to refine tactics.
- Develops mental acuity. The speed, spinand placement of the ball are crucial in table tennis, and practiced players are highly skilledin both creating and solving puzzles involving these three attributes.
- Improves reflexes. Due to thefast-paced, short-distance nature of the sport, both gross and fine muscle movements are improved. The game is distinguished by bursts of exertion and recovery, leading to fast-twitch muscle development.
- It’s easy on the joints. Have you had knee surgery, back problems, tired of twisting your ankles? Try table tennis. It’s a great way to improve your leg, arm and core strength without overtaxing your joints.
- Burns calories. A 150-pound person can burn 272 calories by playing table tennis for an hour. Considering the fact that the sport is entertaining and addictive, it can be a fun and easy way to burn calories.
- Offers a social outlet.Whether you play in the community center or at home with friends, table tennis offers a great way to bond with other people while you lose weight. Because young and old people can play the game, it can help improve communication and build relationships, irrespective of age. Playing at home with siblings or parentscan bring family members closer and enable them to spend more quality time with each other.
- Keeps your brain sharp. Alzheimer’s Weekly reports a clear increase in motor skills and cognitive awareness from playing table tennis, after a series of preliminary clinical studies in Japan found that table tennis markedly increases the flow of blood to the brain, and could possibly even prevent dementia.
- Improves coordination. Following the ping pong ball as it moves quickly toward you, and following its trajectory as your opponent hits it helps improve hand-eye coordination.
- Improves balance. Staying balanced and being able to quickly change direction are key to being successful in a ping pong rally. This is especially important for the elderly.
- Stimulates various different parts of the brain. By anticipating an opponent’s shot, a player uses the prefrontal cortex for strategic planning. The aerobic exercise from the physical activity of the game stimulates the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for allowing us to form and retain long-term facts and events.
