Table tennis and Parkinson's

I'm convinced that playing table tennis regularly for the last 16 years has meant I’m better able to manage my Parkinson’s.

When I’m playing I forget everything in the heat and pace of the game. The clumsiness in the other areas of my life has not yet reached the table tennis court.

It’s a fast game and there’s little time to think – you can only react as the small ball flies at you in a blur. Decisions have to be made in a split second. It’s fantastic for hand-eye coordination and the movements from side to side, backwards, and forwards, is good for balance.

I’m sure it’s also good for the brain. You have to form the correct basic strokes and continually repeat those actions until they become part of your muscle memory. There’s an emphasis on decision-making and strategy too, to outwit the opponent – rather like a physical form of chess.

This may all sound a bit serious. It’s actually great fun. I have forged many good friendships across the table.

People of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities play regularly. It’s a passion to constantly drive to improve and play the perfect game. I have played in the Bedford league for the last 12 years and am determined to play for as long as I possibly can.

Table tennis is one of many activities I do to help manage my Parkinson’s symptoms.

It improves hand-eye coordination, and stimulates mental alertness and concentration, which are all impacted by Parkinson’s.

It requires me to move fast over short distances, so helps to improve both large and small muscle movements, while being easy on my joints. 

Table tennis is a great way to help maintain leg, arm and core strength. Parkinson’s impacts my range and speed of movement, so this is important.

It’s also just a great way of burning calories while having fun and having social interaction, which benefits my mental health.