Table Tennis Offers hope and Activity for Parkinson’s Patients
table โฃtennisโ is gaining โrecognition as a beneficial activity for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, offering โขa โคunique way to address some of theโ condition’s core challenges. While not a strenuous sport at theโ amateur level, it actively engages crucial physical โฃskills often impacted by Parkinson’s – balance, โคreflexes, mobility, and responsiveness to stimuli. The activity subtly encourages the brain to findโ choice pathways for muscle activation, bypassing areas affected by rigidity orโ slowness.
Recognizing these benefits,the Red Parkinson Foundationโข has initiated free table tennis classes,attracting a growing number of patients to locations like the โขGolden Triangle sports Centre in madrid,andโ clubs in Catalonia,notably L’Hospitalet.
These classes are tailored to individual needs, led byโข three coaches who begin with a complete warm-upโฃ focused on balance and joint mobility. Participants are then divided into groups, some focusing on physical and cognitive exercises, and others on adapted table tennis drills. Federico Drago, president and coach of the District โฃ20 club, explains the approach: “We serve aโข group of 20-25 people, the majority men even thoughโ we would likeโฃ more women to come. First we develop exercises that work for everyone, as each patient has their own situation and difficultyโฆ”.
The โemphasis isn’t necessarilyโ on improving athletic performance, but on maintaining focus during exercise. Coaches โincorporateโฃ variations like using both hands, targeting specific areas on the table, and utilizing differently colored balls to keep players engaged and stimulate both physical and โcognitive function. “Table tennis is a game that can be very repetitiveโฆbut here we are not trying โขso much to improve, but rather to โensure that the player/patient remains focused on executing the exercise,” dragoโ states.
The benefits extend beyond the physical. Joseโข Antonio Alonso, โPresident of the Red Parkinson Foundation, highlights โขthe psychological impact: “Sometimes it involvesโข depression and loneliness; goingโ to these training sessionsโฃ is like therapy andโ givesโฃ extraordinaryโ results physically and mentally.” He explains that the symptoms of Parkinson’s โฃ- limited mobility, tremors, and a feeling of being “useless” – can lead to isolation and depression. “You don’t โmove, you limp, you have a tremor, it’s frustrating, it’s โขembarrassing, you feel useless and you prefer to stay โขhome to avoid that stigma.”
Alonso notes โคthat the concentration required to follow the ball in a game of table tennis provides a valuable mental โคandโข physical workout, and that some participants have shown significant improvement within just three โmonths. He concludes, “Table tennis โฃcan win a few pointsโ for Parkinson’s.”
