Para table tennis improves psychological/mental and cardiovascular health in individuals with spinal cord injury

This study investigates the impact of a 4-week para table tennis program on adults with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It focuses on how this activity affects their self-confidence and overall health. The study involved 39 participants with SCI, divided into two groups: one group participated in para table tennis training, while the other did not. Heart rate variability (HRV) measurements were used to assess the function of their autonomic nervous systems. The results indicated that para table tennis training led to reduced physical stress and improvements in cardiovascular health. Participants also experienced enhanced self-confidence after the training program.

• 1
  Para table tennis training significantly reduced the physical stress index (PSI) in participants with SCI.
• 2
  The training program led to significant improvements in various cardiovascular parameters, including vessel state, differential pulse wave index, atrial elasticity, eccentric constriction power, and remaining blood volume.
• 3
  Participants in the experimental group showed significant improvement in self-efficacy following the para table tennis training.