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Table Tennis and Dementia

Teaser: 

Dr. Gabriel Chan,1 Nicky Lam,2

1Geriatrician, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, ON.
2Social Worker, Caregiver Education & Support Services, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, ON.

CLINICAL TOOLS

Abstract: This report examines the relationship between table tennis and dementia through a global environmental scan and literature review. Research indicates that table tennis improves cognitive, physical, neurological, and psychological functioning in older adults, potentially slowing cognitive decline associated with dementia. The analysis presents a holistic intervention model, reviews comparable global programs, and identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for implementing table tennis programs as non-pharmaceutical interventions for dementia symptoms.
Key Words: Dementia prevention, cognitive exercise, table tennis therapy, non-pharmaceutical intervention.
Table tennis has demonstrated neurological benefits including increased brain blood flow, hippocampal volume, and gray and white matter in regions associated with age-related degeneration.
Regular table tennis participation improves cognitive functions like inhibition, memory, and reaction time while reducing depression and improving psychological wellbeing.
The physical aspects of table tennis enhance agility, strength, and bone mineral density, making it an accessible and low-cost intervention for older adults.
A holistic approach combining cognitive, physical, psychological, and social benefits makes table tennis a promising non-pharmaceutical treatment option for dementia symptoms.
A 10-week table tennis intervention program for patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease showed measurable increases in hippocampal volume and improved scores on Mini-mental state examinations, suggesting it can be an effective complementary treatment alongside standard care.
For optimal cognitive benefits, structure table tennis sessions to incorporate cognitive challenges (such as the “go/no-go” task of choosing when to hit or not hit) rather than simple rallying, as this combination of physical and cognitive exercise produces greater improvements than either alone.
When implementing table tennis programs for dementia patients, ensure safety protocols are in place with trained staff nearby, as cognitive bias may cause participants to overestimate their physical capacity, potentially leading to falls or cardiovascular events.
To have access to full article that these tools were developed for, please subscribe. The cost to subscribe is $80 USD per year and you will gain full access to all the premium content on www.healthplexus.net, an educational portal, that hosts 1000s of clinical reviews, case studies, educational visual aids and more as well as within the mobile app.
Related Terms: Dementia, Dementia prevention, cognitive exercise, table tennis therapy, non-pharmaceutical intervention
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An Approach to Thoracic Back Pain

Teaser: 

Jenna Smith-Forrester, MD, MSc, 1 Sean Christie, MD, FRCSC,2

1Neurosurgery resident at Dalhousie University.
2 is Professor and Head of Neurosurgery at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health.

CLINICAL TOOLS

Abstract: Thoracic back pain, while less prevalent than cervical or lumbar pain, encompasses a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from benign to life-threatening. This article discusses both non-spine-related causes, such as aortic dissection and pancreatitis, as well as spine-related pathology including compression fractures, herpetic neuralgia, thoracic disc herniations, spinal metastases, and intradural lesions like meningiomas and syringomyelia. Using clinical pearls, case studies, and evidence-based approaches, this article offers primary healthcare providers with the tools to diagnose and manage thoracic back pain effectively.
Key Words: Thoracic back pain, thoracic disc herniation, spinal metastasis, spinal compression fracture, syringomyelia (Syrinx).

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www.cfpc.ca/Mainpro_M2

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Spinal Compression Fractures: Most commonly caused by osteoporosis, compression fractures present with acute pain exacerbated by movement. Prevention efforts focus on frailty screening and osteoporosis management.
Herpetic Neuralgia: Thoracic dermatomes are frequently affected, with dermatomal pain and vesicular rash often confirming the diagnosis. Neuropathic pain agents remain the cornerstone of treatment.
Thoracic Disc Herniation: Though rare (1:1,000,000), can cause thoracic pain and radiculopathy and lead to myelopathy with spastic paraparesis. MRI is the gold standard for diagnosis, with surgical interventions considered for refractory cases.
Spinal Metastasis: The thoracic spine is the most common site for spinal metastases, presenting with nocturnal pain, neurologic deficits, and instability. Treatment involves palliation, pain relief, and spinal stabilization. 
Thoracic viscera may be the source of sudden severe pain, often associated with hemodynamic or constitutional symptoms.
MRI is the preferred imaging modality for diagnosing thoracic disc herniation, spinal cord compression, and intramedullary lesions.
Early recognition and referral to specialists are crucial for conditions like thoracic disc herniation, unstable spinal metastatic disease, and syrinx to improve patient outcomes.
To have access to full article that these tools were developed for, please subscribe. The cost to subscribe is $80 USD per year and you will gain full access to all the premium content on www.healthplexus.net, an educational portal, that hosts 1000s of clinical reviews, case studies, educational visual aids and more as well as within the mobile app.
Related Terms: Back Health, Thoracic back pain, thoracic disc herniation, spinal metastasis, spinal compression fracture, syringomyelia (Syrinx)

#23: Table Tennis and Dementia

Hello, and welcome to Medical Narratives. I am Mark Varnovitski, co-founder of HealthPlexus and publisher of the CME Journal of Current Clinical Care. Today, I have an opportunity of co-hosting this special episode alongside Dr. Michael Gordon, a well-known geriatrician from Toronto and host of the Medical Narratives channel.

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Dr. Michael Gordon recently retired after a fulfilling career as a geriatrician that spanned 56 years, 44 of which he spent working at the Baycrest Center in Toronto. He is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Gordon is a recognized ethicist and a thought leader on all topics of care of the elderly and end-of-life decisions. Currently, Dr. Gordon provides part-time professional medical consulting mainly in the domain of cognition and memory loss.

#48: Respiratory Health—Asthma

Welcome to 3P: Pills, Pearls, and Patients where we will discuss current events in medicine, stories from real patient-physician encounters, and gain insight into what it's like being a physician in today's society.

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  Back to Pills, Pearls & Patients (3P)

Hello, and welcome to the next episode of 3P: Pills, Pearls, and Patients. I'm your host, Dr. Marina Malak, and today, we're going to be starting a, I guess, two or three-part series, depending on how far we get along, on respiratory health.

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Dr. Marina Malak is a family physician in Mississauga, Ontario and a lecturer and faculty member at the University of Toronto. She is actively involved in medical advocacy, and is a board member of the Mississauga Primary Care Network. She is also a member of the National Committee of Continuing Professional Development at the College of Family Physicians of Ontario, and a member of the Research Ethics Board at Trillium Health Partners.

She is passionate about patient care; medical education; and promoting mental, physical, and emotional wellness. She enjoys reading, writing, public speaking, puzzles, doodling in her bullet journal, and creating drawings on Procreate.