2 days Ago By James Taylor
Once a week, Bob Staff finds blessed relief from the pain and fatigue that has plagued him for the past seven years. Like thousands of Australians, the 83-year-old has Parkinson's disease. But when he plays ping pong every Monday afternoon in a modest council hall, Mr Staff feels as if he were a younger man again.
"As you play it you forget about all your aches and pains," he said. That's because the hand-eye coordination and quick reaction time featured in racquet sports such as ping pong and are helpful in reducing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Trevor Chong is an associate professor in cognitive neuroscience at Monash University, and leads the Monash Cognitive Neurology Laboratory.
Trevor Chong says the unique features of ping pong make it particularly effective as a form of Parkinson's disease therapy. He said while many forms of exercise could help improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the unique features of ping pong made it particularly effective. The sport's focus on balance, hand-eye coordination and reaction time can reduce the tremors and rigidity commonly experienced by people with Parkinson's disease.
The quick thinking and strategic decision-making involved in playing ping pong can reduce the symptoms of cognitive impairment including difficulty with memory, language and spatial orientation. "Last but not least, ping pong is an activity [that] often occurs in a group setting, and social interaction has been shown to significantly improve both cognition and mood," Dr Chong said. Ping Pong Parkinson Mr Staff is one of more than 150,000 people living with Parkinson's disease in Australia, making it the country's second most common neurological disease after dementia.
And as the population ages, it is becoming increasingly common. According to the World Health Organisation, Parkinson's disease is the world's fastest-growing neurological disorder. Sporting groups for people living with Parkinson's disease have developed to help alleviate the symptoms of the disease through exercise.
A Parkinson's Australia report estimates the number of people with the disease will triple over the next 25 years. Helen Halford is the Australian coordinator for Ping Pong Parkinson, an international organisation promoting the sport as a form of therapy for the disease. It has more than 300 branches in 25 countries around the world, with the first Australian chapter opening last year in Hervey Bay, 300 kilometres north of Brisbane.
Ms Halford said the physical and mental health of the eight regular members, including Mr Staff, had improved since they took up a racquet. Helen Halford is the Australian coordinator for Ping Pong Parkinson. "I've had people telling me that they're feeling better and moving better," she said.
'Fills my heart with joy' Mr Staff's son Robby said his father had become rejuvenated after joining the group. Robby Staff (right) with his father Bob (left) and Ping Pong Parkinson founder Nenad Bach (middle). "It's incredibly invaluable as a social activity and also a physical activity and just an enthusiasm for life," he said.
Ping Pong Parkinson founder Nenad Bach started the organisation in 2017 after being diagnosed. He said he felt buoyed after a visit to the Hervey Bay chapter. Nenad Bach founded Ping Pong Parkinson after he found the sport gave him relief from his Parkinson's disease symptoms.
"When you put people in this room ...
you can't take the smile off the face," he said. "It changes their life and for me, it fills my heart with joy." ABC Wide Bay — local news in your inbox.
