Table tennis is a sport that integrates strength, speed, flexibility, agility, and endurance while also being a perfect combination of technique and tactics. Suitable for all ages, it does not demand high physical fitness and has a wide range of participants.
Maintaining a certain amount of time playing table tennis daily can, to some extent, prevent myopia and effectively improve eyesight in the long run.
Many people may wonder how table tennis can improve eyesight. Initially, myopia is generally caused by spasms of the ciliary muscle and convexity of the lens due to long-term adaptation to nearby environments. There are numerous benefits to playing table tennis, which include effectively eliminating fatigue and promoting overall well-being.
On the one hand, developing a habit of enjoying table tennis can eradicate myopia in its early stages. On the other hand, it can prevent spasmodic myopia formation completely, and long-term adherence can alleviate existing axial myopia, ultimately strengthening the eye muscles and naturally improving vision.
Benefits of Table Tennis:
1. Correcting Pseudo-Myopia and Preventing Myopia Progression
The table tennis table is 2.74 meters long. When the opponent hits the ball, the table tennis ball is generally about 3 meters away from the player's eyes. During mid-range rallies, the distance can reach 7-8 meters, while during serves, the table tennis ball is only a few tens of centimeters away from the player's eyes.
During this process, the player's eyes constantly switch between distances of a few tens of centimeters and several meters, providing stimuli to the near, mid-range, and far vision. This stimulates the contraction and relaxation ability of the ciliary muscle, controlling myopia development. Additionally, the movement of the eyeball in various directions enhances blood circulation, further strengthening the resistance of the eyeball wall.
2. Treating Astigmatism Myopia
In the process of table tennis training, the transition from far to near vision trains the ciliary muscle adjustment amplitude, thereby promoting the development of the visual center and improving vision.
3. Increasing Brain Flexibility
Among all ball sports, table tennis has the fastest speed. Due to its small and light ball, rapid offense and defense transitions are required.
Players must make accurate judgments and reactions to the changing ball within a short time (generally not exceeding half a second), move their feet quickly, and use various techniques such as rubs, cuts, hits, or pulls to hit the ball.
This characteristic of emphasizing technique, tactics, and mental agility can effectively train children or older people's response-ability and the brain's sensitivity to surrounding objects. Therefore, playing table tennis can prevent dementia in the elderly, delay the onset of cerebral arteriosclerosis, and help children maintain good thinking and memory.
In summary, table tennis training is helpful for eye vision and agility and can aid in relieving visual fatigue. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to exercise muscles and bones, thus achieving multiple benefits in one activity.
