Table Tennis for Health and Wellbeing: A Rapid Scoping Review

Table tennis has increasingly been adopted as a tool to promote physical and mental health, yet evidence on its outcomes and implementation remains scattered. This study conducted a rapid scoping review to summarise available research on the health outcomes of table tennis within recreational or non-elite settings and identify how table tennis-for-health activities are structured and delivered. Peer-reviewed articles in English were included when they focused the outcomes of table tennis participation on health in community or social settings. Searches across two multidisciplinary databases, complemented by reference screening, led to 17 studies published between 2010 and 2025 being included. Studies were then charted for their methodological, intervention and outcome characteristics. Most studies employed quantitative methods, with experimental or controlled designs predominating, and targeted children, adolescents, older adults, and individuals with conditions such as ADHD or Parkinson's disease. Across various settings, table tennis was associated with improvements in physical fitness, balance, agility, and body composition, alongside cognitive benefits such as enhanced executive functioning and visual-perceptual skills. Psychological and social outcomes, including improved self-efficacy, emotional regulation, cooperation and social interaction, were also reported. Though no formal quality assessment was conducted, there are clear methodological limitations, including small sample sizes, geographic and gender imbalances, and limited reporting on intervention characteristics that restrict the strength and generalisability of the findings. Overall, this review provides a starting point for trainers and health professionals in the area, presenting promising but preliminary evidence for table tennis as a health-enhancing activity and highlighting the need for more rigorous and comprehensive evaluation.