A Pilot Table Tennis-Based Neurorehabilitation Program to Improve Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

BackgroundExercise is the only established disease-modifying intervention in Parkinson's disease (PD), and continued exploration of innovative and engaging exercise modalities may further enhance outcomes for individuals living with PD. Table tennis (TT) is a cognitively engaging, task-specific activity integrating visuospatial processing, anticipatory motor planning, and dynamic postural control.ObjectiveTo examine the feasibility, including attendance, retention, and safety, and effects of a 12 week TT-based program, NeuroPong^TM, on motor and non-motor symptoms in individuals with PD.MethodsIn this single-arm pilot study, 30 participants were enrolled and 26 completed 12 weeks of twice-weekly, 2-h TT sessions. The primary outcome was the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS III). Secondary outcomes included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and several patient-reported outcomes. Pre-post comparisons were conducted using paired T-tests.ResultsImprovements were observed in the MDS-UPDRS Part III (mean change -5.73, 95% CI -9.02 to -2.44, p = 0.0014), BBS (mean change +3.08, 95% CI 1.987 to 4.17, p < 0.0001), TUG (mean change -1.04, 95% CI -1.69 to -0.38, p = 0.0032), and 6MWT (mean change 66.77, 95% CI 49.82 to 83.71, p < 0.0001). Self-reported depression decreased (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS-D mean change -1.12, 95% CI -1.97 to -0.26, p = 0.0129). Attendance averaged approximately 90%, and no adverse events were reported. No significant changes were observed in other outcomes.ConclusionsA 12-week TT-based program, NeuroPong™, was feasible and associated with improvement in motor function, balance, walking endurance and self-reported depression in PD. The multidimensional motor and cognitive demands of table tennis may contribute to these observed benefits. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted.