Table tennis has great benefits for people living with Parkinson’s Disease
Helen Halford says table tennis has many benefits for people with Parkinson’s Disease and she is working tirelessly to establish PingPongParkinson (PPP) chapters across Australia. She’s established nine so far and three of those are on the Northern Beaches.
Although Helen lives in Queensland, she grew up in Sydney and regularly stays with her sister in Manly. She really saw the need for PPP on the Beaches and established chapters in Forestville, Dee Why and Manly this year.
Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms include tremors, muscle stiffness and slowing of movement and non-motor symptoms can include depression and sleep issues. Helen says that playing ping pong can help with these symptoms.
Nenad was able to return to the stage
“While they’re playing, they don’t have a tremor,” explains Helen. “They don’t have the same difficulties as usual. When they’re playing regularly, life is easier. They’re moving easier and feeling better. It helps them cope better with their illness and it helps people with their attitude towards the condition.”
Ping pong helped with Nenad’s symptoms
US singer, songwriter and composer Nenad Bach founded PPP in 2017. Nenad first noticed a tremor in his hand in 2010 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year later. A friend introduced him to table tennis, and he found that playing it regularly helped alleviate some of his symptoms and he was able to return to performing.
Helen has known Nenad for many years with both having a Croation background and she decided to bring PPP to Australia.
Helen says that as well as the physical benefits ping pong has for people with Parkinson’s, there are also psychological and social benefits of being part of a supportive community.
“They’re not afraid of their condition anymore,” says Helen. “They’re slowing its progression, but they’re also connecting and identifying with other people. We’re part of each other’s journey towards being more hopeful.”
Helen is working tirelessly to establish more chapters wherever there is a need and would love to hear from people interested in establishing a chapter in their community.
“It’s good for our health and it’s good for a community that’s more hopeful and more supportive and empathetic.”
Helen says it really helps for someone to train two or three times a week to get the most benefit from ping pong. Chapters are currently operating in Forestville Memorial Hall on Thursday evenings, Dee Why PCYC on Wednesday mornings, and extra sessions for those attending Forestville and Dee Why are available in Manly Vale community hall on Saturday afternoons. All sessions cost between $5 and $7.
To find out about the PPP Chapters on the Northern Beaches visit pingpongparkinson.org and click ‘find a chapter.’ Or email Helen at helen@pingpongparkinson.org.