Ping Pong for Parkinson’s Disease
Roughly 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year, and more than 10 million people worldwide are living with it. The incidence of Parkinson's disease increases with age, yet 4% percent of people are diagnosed before age 50. The neurodegenerative disorder is caused by the gradual reduction of a chemical in the brain called dopamine, and symptoms generally develop slowly over years. The progression of symptoms is different from one person to the next due to the different stages of the disease. In the beginning stages, people with PD may experience:
Tremors at rest and rolling tremors in the hands
Extra-slow movements (shuffling)
Limb rigidity (neck tightness is common)
Gait and balance problems
As the condition progresses, cognitive function is directly affected, which causes great pain and anxiety in people experiencing it. You may find loved ones who start whispering for no reason or find the person with temporary amnesia, and often the patient has a distorted sense of smell – and difficulty understanding basic principles.
The Parkinson Foundation says the cause remains largely unknown. And although there’s no cure, treatment options vary and include medications, surgery, or preventive lifestyle activities such as eating well and playing hand-eye coordination sports, such as Ping Pong.
Parkinson’s itself is not fatal but disease complications are serious, and directly affect the quality of life. Plus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated complications from PD as the 14th cause of death in the United States.
Managing the Mind-Body Effects of PD
Depression and apathy
Decreased range of movement
Insomnia and sleep troubles
Constipation and digestive issues
Difficulty eating and swallowing
Increased falls and loss of balance
Incontinence and erectile function
Depression and anxiety affect up to 50 percent of people living with PD, and mood shifts tend to decrease physical function. Tending to your emotional health helps you sidestep this cycle and using the tools at your disposal to feel better, including talk therapy, regular exercise, sound sleep, and less stress. After all, low-skill and low-impact exercises and leisure activities – like biking, walking and ping pong – are the world’s most natural antidepressants.
In several table tennis participant studies, researchers found that the ball speed, ball projection, and airborne spins resulted in sharpened mental acuity due to hormonal boosts and keeping the aging brain active. The lightning-fast body movements also help prevent cognitive decline associated with aging. (Did we mention it’s fun and motivating for people of all ages and all skill levels?)
Exercise, Brain Health & Ping Pong
Exercise is important for people with Parkinson's disease because it helps maintain balance, mobility, dexterity, and the ability to perform daily routines. Researchers have found that Parkinson's patients who exercise at least 2 1/2 hours a week also experience a slower decline in their quality of life. Also, keeping up with routine daily activities like washing dishes, folding laundry, yardwork, shopping — anything that keeps you on your feet — helps delay the degeneration of motor symptoms, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, MD. In addition, regular moderate movements like Ping Pong, dancing, and boxing all encourage balance and coordination and may slow the progression of this condition.
Other ping pong resources
The American Parkinson Disease Association (Webinar)