Testimonials

It is important to seek evidence on whether a therapy truly works. In addition to numerous scientific studies on the benefits of Ping Pong Therapy (PPT), sharing personal experiences provides valuable information and motivation. I’ve gathered a few testimonials from people with Parkinson’s disease and would also love to hear about your experience.

My name is Nenad Bach, and I am a composer, producer, singer, songwriter, and peace activist.

In 2010, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and in 2015, I stopped performing because I could no longer play syncopations on the guitar. By chance, I started playing table tennis in 2016 and noticed my symptoms improving. Initially, I played once a week, then increased to 2-3 times per week, and after 3-6 months, I was able to play the guitar again. Since it helped me, I thought it might help others, so on March 1, 2017, I founded PingPongParkinson (PPP). In six years, the movement has spread to more than 200 cities in 26 countries and continues to grow. My close partners include Thorsten Boomhuis (Germany), Vinko Kurent (Slovenia), Dr. Hiro Kawai (Japan), and Ronnie Gilboa (Israel).

When, in 2019, during the sixth year of my Parkinson’s diagnosis, I was examined by a new neurologist for the first time, he asked me what I was doing about my Parkinson’s disease besides taking medication. I replied that I wasn’t doing anything. Only later, through the PingPongParkinson association, did we realize that regular table tennis training could have played a role in keeping my Parkinson’s symptoms mild and still not very pronounced.

Table tennis has become my weapon in fighting against an unforgiving opponent—Parkinson’s disease—whose tremors and stiffness threaten to rob me of my sense of control and autonomy. The appeal of table tennis lies in its fast pace, requiring quick decisions and reflexes. It’s a game of strategy and finesse, demanding not only physical skills but also mental agility—a combination that Parkinson’s disease clearly does not like.

The therapeutic benefits of table tennis for people with Parkinson’s are a phenomenon that scientists are only beginning to uncover. But for those of us who have experienced it firsthand, the profound effect is undeniable. Equally remarkable as the physical benefits of table tennis are the bonds of friendship and support that flourish within the walls of PingPongParkinson. Here, I am not alone in my battles, but surrounded by a community of fellow competitors, each bravely fighting against Parkinson’s disease. Together, we laugh, celebrate our victories, and provide comfort in moments of defeat. It reminds us that no matter how daunting the journey may seem, we are in it together.

In the end, table tennis is more than just a game, and the PingPongParkinson association is more than just a place to play—it is a lifeline in the face of hardship, a refuge from the storms of Parkinson’s disease, where hope and perseverance are paramount. Because of the unwavering support and dedication I’ve received, I’ve realized that Parkinson’s may have altered the course of my life, but it will never extinguish the fire within me. As long as I have a table, a ball, and a community of like-minded people, I will continue to defy all challenges and find hope in the rhythm of the ball.

I have been living with Parkinson’s disease for 12 years, yet I continue to train and play table tennis, which serves as therapy and helps me maintain body mobility.

I train three times a week for two hours each time, and during those sessions, I forget about the disease and all the associated difficulties. I also enjoy participating in table tennis competitions, where we socialize and compete against each other. I am proud of my achievements at the 3rd and 4th PingPongParkinson World Championships, where I won gold and silver medals in singles, gold and bronze in men’s doubles, and silver in mixed doubles. I am convinced that playing table tennis helps slow the progression of this insidious disease.

What else can I tell you, except that my ping pong training brightens up two days a week?!

Sometimes you see someone barely making it to training, but once we start playing, there’s no time to think about what you can’t do or what hurts.

The little white ball is so fast and elusive that you have to be quick to chase it.

Even though moving helps with our disease, that’s not enough for us—we also want to be good. We’re happiest when we win!

In short, ping pong has gotten under our skin, helping us through tough days while strengthening our friendships and team spirit!

The first thing I would miss if my disease progressed significantly would be ping pong!

At the beginning of 2021, based on information I found about the benefits of playing in the magazine Trepetlika, I started playing table tennis. I contacted the Maribor section of the Trepetlika club, its president Vinko Kurent, and the coach Gregor Komac. By spring 2021, I was already participating in the 1st National Championship. Later, I had the opportunity to join the team at the 2nd World Table Tennis Championship for Parkinson’s patients in Berlin. I was also involved in founding a group that trains table tennis in Kodeljevo, Ljubljana. In 2023, I participated in the 2nd National Championship and in the autumn of the same year in the 3rd World Championship in Pula. Playing table tennis has become a part of my life. It further improves my well-being and enriches my social connections. My fellow players and I become friends. The memories of the events in Berlin and, of course, in Pula keep returning, as they were charged with strong emotional energy for us competitors. I would also like to mention that, through organizing training in Ljubljana, I meet many people who genuinely wish me well and help me, for which I am very grateful.

For me, table tennis is a different approach to a disease that cannot yet be cured or stopped.

You actively confront your illness and step out of the isolation often associated with Parkinson’s, where people tend to hide from the public to avoid drawing attention to their symptoms.

You enter a supportive environment where you meet like-minded individuals, exchanging ideas and receiving information. The focus is on fun and the good spirit of the group, which is contagious. Suddenly, your illness doesn’t seem so significant anymore.

You play table tennis, train, and realize that even with the disease, you can still improve your abilities.

The fantastic effects that you take away are reflected in how soon after training you feel like you no longer have the disease. The night after training, you sleep better, and you can even toss and turn in bed again.

Unfortunately, this wonderful feeling of excitement slowly fades the next day. So, it seems important to me to play table tennis as often as possible, to work up a good sweat, and to stretch my whole body with all its limbs, reaching for that white ball to get it over the net to the other side of the table tennis table.

It is incredibly encouraging and rewarding to see happy faces every week, to be part of this community, and to feel like part of a whole.

Table tennis improves my physical well-being. After training, the tremors are significantly reduced, and the stiffness decreases as well. Sometimes I can even sleep better than my usual 4 hours a night. The positive effects of social interactions during training with partners and friends, the fun of playing, and enjoying drinks together afterward are undeniable. The international PingPongParkinson association, with its regular tournaments, provides meaningful goals to train for. These tournaments have fostered numerous friendships, making the experience even more rewarding.

In Croatia, we began table tennis therapy in 2017, with a formal opening and our first training session. My first practical experience, seeing how a long-term patient’s hands stopped trembling during play and how he became much more agile, was inspiring. Later, I connected with doctors, and we started organized ping pong therapy using two tables. The number of player-patients grew, we participated in competitions and world championships, and achieved significant success.

My experiences are as follows: Individuals with a Parkinson’s diagnosis who play ping pong continuously and in an organized manner undoubtedly benefit in many ways. The physical health improvements are clear—everyone becomes more agile, moves more easily, is calmer, mentally more satisfied, and increasingly optimistic. Social interaction is certainly of great importance.

I regret that such a small, almost symbolic number of patients can participate in table tennis therapy. While doctors recommend physical activities, it often remains just a recommendation, as people are left to their own devices. In my opinion, physical therapy should be almost equivalent to pharmacological treatment, but unfortunately, no one seems to prioritize it.