Playing ping-pong improve motor symptoms in patiens with Parkinson´'s disease

Playing table tennis, also known as ping-pong, appears to improve motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), new research suggests.

The results of a small pilot study show that table ping-pong is a safe and effective rehabilitative intervention for patients with PD that can be easily introduced.

It's apparent that the exercise can improve motor function of PD. However, to date, the effects of the sport have not been well investigated for this patient population.

Researchers assessed participants using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part I-IV. Parts II and III assess motor function whereas parts I and IV evaluate nonmotor function and motor complications, respectively.

The investigators are currently organizing a prospective, multicenter randomized study to compare the effectiveness of table tennis with conventional rehabilitation and the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, which is designed to increase vocal intensity in patients with PD.