Table tennis

Parkinson’s sufferers should not be treated primarily passively. The pro-active table tennis game has a consistently positive influence on all important treatment goals of physical therapy and combines the sporting and health aspects with the fun of the game. So this game has recently become one of the most popular activities to do for people living with Parkinson’s. It requires quick reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and movement. Playing table tennis can help improve motor skills and cognitive function. Even in clinical studies it was shown, that table tennis had a significantly positive effect on MDS-UPDRS parts II and III*.

Under the motto PingPongParkinson (PPP), an international initiative has now been developed to motivate people affected by Parkinson’s to play this game. Whether beginner or advanced. This initiative wants to get the many people affected by Parkinson’s disease in the respective countries off the sofa and away from the frequent isolation, among the people and into the PPP groups.

PingPongParkinson is an association of individuals and self-help groups who volunteer to take care of people with Parkinson’s and their families using table tennis.

The PingPongParkinson concept is based on the fact that it wants to offer this game for everyone with Parkinson’s, regardless of their personal abilities, i.e. from beginners to world champions.

Many sufferers who have tried it are certain: The progressive worsening of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease can be slowed down by playing table tennis as physical therapy. Tremor and freezing can decrease significantly or usually disappear completely. Many of those affected feel more mobile, more responsive, balance is hardly a problem and enjoying the game is above all very beneficial for one’s own well-being.

Table tennis is therefore a good form of therapy for Parkinson’s patients.

For more information visit: https://www.pingpongparkinson.org/

*Table tennis for patients with Parkinson’s disease: A single-center, prospective pilot study – ScienceDirect