Development of technology-enhanced table tennis (TeTT) training programme for people with cognitive deficits: Elderly with dementia and children with intellectual disability

Introduction/ Rationale
Sport is good for our health. However, people with cognitive deficits may encounter challenges to learn sport skills or engage in sport activities.

Aims/ Objectives
This study aims to develop a technology-enhanced table tennis training (TeTT) programme to facilitate the training of tennis table skills, cognitive and physical functions of elderly with dementia and children with intellectual disability.

Method
This project developed two versions of the TeTT programme: (a) elderly with mild to moderate dementia, and (b) children with mild to moderate intellectual disability. Both versions cover similar modules of table tennis, cognition and physical training. Both versions apply sensors for motion detection and health monitoring, and adopt specific teaching and learning strategies. This project invited six licensed table tennis coaches and eight occupational therapists as expert panel members to evaluate five aspects of the TeTT programme: (a) coverage of skills training, (b) appropriateness of goal setting, (c) appropriateness of skill training methods, (d) suitability and (e) applicability of the protocols for the two target populations.

Results
The expert panel members agreed with and gave suggestions on the above-mentioned five aspects of both versions. They commented that the innovative approach of the protocols not only suggested a solution to minimize the challenges upon providing table tennis training for elderly, children and those with special educational needs but also offered cognitive and physical training through table tennis activity. Some commonalities and specificities of the two versions of the TeTT programme for the two target populations were identified.

Conclusion/ Implications
This project adopted a cross-disciplinary approach and university-industry collaboration to promote the health of elderly with dementia and children with intellectual disability through table tennis activity. The next phase of study will evaluate the effectiveness of the TeTT programme, and its potential in primary health care will also be explored.