CONSORT Checklist and Study Flow Diagram - Comparing Competitive and Recreational Table Tennis Training: Impacts on Quality of life in Older Adults - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Due to its combination of speed, tactics and accuracy, table tennis is becoming one of the sport exercises that is suitable for the older adult. Casual play is fun and relaxing, and more serious table tennis might further skill development through focused practice. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to determine how the practice of competition compared to leisure playing affects the Quality of life (QoL) of people aged 40-70. Selecting subjects at random, one group of subjects undertook a structured competitive regimen while the other group was given time to play recreationally without any structured competition. QoL was measured before and after the intervention using WHOQOL-BREF, measuring their physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. The group which received structured competition reported a marked improvement in their QoL indicators especially in physical health (p < 0.001), psychological health (p < 0.001), social relationships (p = 0.001) when compared to the control group that was not structured which showed few improvements. No significant differences were observed in the environmental domain for either group.