Ping Pong Parkinson's Night Celebrates Four Month Anniversary

From Westchester Table Tennis Center: The Westchester Table Tennis Center's Ping Pong Parkinson Night celebrates its four month anniversary June 28, 2017. The mission of the program is to help "Parkies" slow down the progression of the disease by playing ping pong regularly.

We are delighted to report the program is a success.

The WTTC's program unites Parkinson patients who may otherwise feel they are suffering alone. With "one heart and one soul" there is a unity of purpose and attitude which motivates participants to come together around the ping pong table. This positive energy leads to better moods, increased confidence and sense of
control. "Life is better after playing pong."

The program helps PD patients play better ping pong. Our weekly videotaping session for the first month shows each PD patient hitting 2-3 consecutive balls at most (out-of-33). Four months later, the videotape shows the same patients hitting at least 8 consecutive balls. This improvement leaves participants feeling
encouraged and focused on the game. Most importantly, we have begun to reach our goal! Many of the participants and their families are noticing an overall improvement in the symptoms associated with the disease by playing table tennis regularly, 2-3 times a week.

Nenad Bach, club member and Croatian-American rock star was diagnosed with Parkinson's six years ago. Last year he started playing ping pong at the Westchester Table Tennis Center, in Pleasantville, N.Y. Nenad noticed that playing ping pong twice or three times a week lessened his Parkinson's symptoms.
His doctor noticed, too (see attached letter).

The National Parkinson Foundation states that exercise has “been shown to have positive effects on symptoms for people with Parkinson’s.” Ping pong may be especially good for patients, because it exercises so many pats of the body and the brain, while reinforcing timing, rhythm, and balance."

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