Benefits of table tennis and ping pong

Table tennis has a beneficial effect on our health at any age – it is useful for children, adults, and the elderly. This is not only an international sport and an interesting game, entertainment, but also an effective training of the whole body. Table tennis is good for both physical and mental health.

Benefits for vision

According to a study by the Swiss Centre for the Study of Ophthalmology, table tennis has a positive effect on the muscles of the eyeball. This is due to the constant training of these muscles, since the player always has to change the focus of vision at the tennis table.

1. It is required to constantly monitor the ball. The speed of the ball with powerful attacking strikes can reach about 180 km/h. A player has a fraction of a second to assess a flight path, the probability of rebounding from a certain zone and subsequent movement in order to correctly choose and strike back.
2. We need to keep an eye on the enemy. Not only can the ball change its speed and the subsequent direction of movement after the rebound from different strokes and trajectories, and the player needs to react correctly, but it is also required to monitor your opponent. It is necessary to track the opponent's position relative to the table, the grip of the racket (the intended blow) and the pose.

With a constant change of focus, the muscles of the eyeballs are trained and it is performed unconsciously during the game. Therefore, table tennis has a beneficial effect on vision.

Effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory system

Table tennis classes refer to aerobic exercise, i.e., to exercises in which oxygen entering the lungs is the "fuel" for the body. Running, cycling, fitness - all this also applies to aerobic exercise, which, as is known, contributes to the normalisation of pulse (HR) and blood pressure (BP) and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory, cardiovascular system as a whole.

It is interesting to get acquainted with the research results of Garifullin R.S. and Khairullin R.R. in relation to a group of students of a creative university for whom sports and constant physical activity are clearly not a priority. 70 students of the 1st-3rd year took part in the work. The girls belonged to the main group according to health indications, i.e., they did not have any problems, physical abnormalities. To assess the wellness potential, the researchers used 4 medical systems:

• Ruffier test and orthostatic test for the cardiovascular system.
• A sample of the Barbell and Genche for the respiratory system.

In the research work, all 70 test subjects were divided into two groups of 35 people: control (traditional physical training in accordance with the university's physical education program) and experimental (introduction to physical education exercises and table tennis games). In comparison with the control group, the experimental group revealed a significant increase in the health potential for all the systems used: +10,7%, +13,3%, +14,7% and +19.6% on the Ruffier test, orthostatic test, Rod test and Gencha, respectively.

If we do not go into medical terminology and the fundamental importance of the study, we can draw the following conclusion: table tennis classes have a purely positive effect on the health of the average person (not an athlete).

• Strengthening the muscles of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
• Achieving optimal heart rate and blood pressure, taking into account the physiological characteristics of a particular person, his age, weight, complexion.
• Improvement of blood circulation in the body.
• Better oxygen supply to organ tissues.

When playing table tennis (not necessarily in sports sections - it is enough to visit clubs, games for entertainment), the risk of arrhythmia, increased blood pressure, serious problems with the heart and blood vessels decreases.

Benefits for weight loss

Table tennis can also be considered as an effective fitness for overweight people. For 1 hour of training, a game of medium intensity and about 300 kcal is burned. In addition, with regular ping-pong classes, growth and strengthening of the muscles of the thighs, buttocks, back, and forearms are observed. You can not only lose weight, but also achieve the formation of a beautiful body. At the same time, table tennis is much more interesting than running on a treadmill, an exercise bike, performing the same type of exercises in a fitness club.

Mental Health Benefits

Regular table tennis classes contribute to the development of strong-willed qualities in a person. A healthy desire to win, the ability to "feel" the opponent's mood, the ability to accept losses not as a defeat, but as tips for improving your own game, working on mistakes – all these are quite obvious advantages of ping-pong. During the game, as well as before and after it, a person does not have time at all for various gloomy thoughts, depression. Doctors often recommend playing table tennis in the postoperative period to restore mental health. This is a great way to learn how to cope with stress, depressive states.

In addition to all of the above, it should be added that ping pong:

• promotes the development of motor skills, reaction;
• suitable for children aged 5-6 years, and pensioners aged 70-80 years and older;
• it is a completely safe sport.

It is obvious that table tennis classes have tangible benefits for human health.