If you’re looking to pick up a healthy habit or two, you might want to look into ping pong. Ping pong is a great way to get fit and stay healthy, whether you’re new to the sport or a long-time fan. Plus, it’s got numerous mental and physical benefits to boot!
But Why Ping Pong?
Table tennis is surprisingly accessible to most. The cost of getting started is pretty low since all you need is some space and a table. Because of this, it’s easy to overcome the barrier of entry and get started right away.
Having the best paddles can be great and may prove incredibly beneficial to your gameplay, but they are not a necessity to getting started. If you’re new or don’t want to get expensive paddles for children, you can purchase more affordable ones.
Aside from the ease of getting started, ping pong is also accessible to almost any age. Kids tall enough for the table can already play the sport. And, because the sport is gentle on the joints and relatively safe to play, even seniors can get in on the fun.
Health Benefits of Ping Pong
1. Improves Motor Skills
As an active, fast-paced sport, ping pong helps exercise and develop motor and hand-eye coordination. It’s great not just for developing gross motor control but also for improving fine motor control. These benefits are great for children who are still developing their motor skills.
Aside from helping children, ping pong can help those recovering from an illness or an accident. People who have suffered a stroke or other debilitating incident may find therapeutic benefits from playing table tennis.
Aside from helping with motor skill development, ping pong also helps with honing reflexes. Good reflexes are important since they help with sports performance and exercise, which are important for good health. On top of that, good reflexes also positively impact daily life in activities like driving, crossing the street, working, and avoiding injury.
2. Develops The Brain
Ping pong helps develop focus and concentration, leading to improvements in real-life productivity. It also helps with awareness, analysis, and quick decision-making. These are all excellent perks, especially since they can translate to school or work performance gains. However, because of these brain benefits, ping pong can also actually help to lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Keeping the mind active and working these areas of the brain can even help those already living with dementia. The increased blood flow to the brain and improved balance and coordination that ping pong can bring can also support people with dementia.
3. Well-Rounded Exercise
Ping pong is an exercise that works the whole body. It can burn plenty of calories, especially when played more intensely. The best part is, table tennis is so fun that an hour can fly by without you even noticing.
Table tennis can help you burn fat and lose or maintain weight. When done in the correct form, it’s a healthy exercise that people often find safe, reducing the risk of injury.
This Social Sport Makes for Great Bonding Moments
As a sport for 1-4 people, a table at home can bring fun to the whole family — and more. As a great family and friend bonding activity, everyone can get healthy together! You can enjoy the health benefits even when playing alone, but it’s certainly possible (and even recommended!) to bring more people in for healthy fun.