Elite gymnast Stina Langenius was 24 when her life was turned upside down by a brain haemorrhage – completely without warning.
After an intense care period and long rehabilitation, she is now back in training, though in an unexpected way – with regular workouts at the ping pong table.
– There is no alternative for me. I’m going back to a full life, she says.
As an elite gym, she won both European gold and several SM golds in squad gymnastics. She trained hard. Balance and coordination were her strengths.
After the brain haemorrhage, she has been taught movement again. And already during the hospital stay, both at Karolinska and Danderyd, Stina noted that there was a ping pong table in the corridor.
– It is clear that ping pong is good for the brain, says Stina. Both doctors and physiotherapists invited me to play a lot of ping pong.
Said and done.
Found a ping pong coach
She found coach Roger Johansson via a search online. For him, the assignment became a new challenge.
– Most other young people I train want to win matches and tournaments. Stina aims to come back to a full life. It is about finding exercises that strengthen the brain and challenge her reflexes, coordination and reaction fastness. She is incredibly good, says Roger.
Since last spring they practice ping pong once a week and Stina’s progress has been clear.
– When we first met, she had barely held a racket. Now we do quite advanced exercises. There are many studies that show that ping pong is effective rehab for brain damage, but also for people with, for example, Alzheimer’s. It will be a combination of movement, reflex training and coordination – and you have fun in the meantime, says Roger.
New goals ahead
Stina has no plans to return to competitors at the elite level, but she has realized the value of fighting for an active and unlimited life.
– I no longer take things for granted and want to come back to skiing, sailing and everything else I like. Being able to function fully in everyday life is the goal. The road there may be as it becomes.