When 67-year-old Roben Seltzer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three years ago, his symptoms were so severe that he could barely get out of bed. He was treated with physical therapy and medication to manage symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement.
His doctor also suggested an amazing treatment option: ping pong.
Dr. Elana Clar, a neurologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, said:
“All forms of exercise are beneficial, but what makes table tennis unique is its focus on balance, hand-eye coordination and the rhythm or pace of mutual play,” said Klar. “So it really does affect three things: physical, cognitive and social activity.”
Clarke and Elizabeth Kella, a neuropsychologist at Hackensack University Medical Center, co-founded the New Jersey chapter of Ping Pong Parkinson, a New York-based nonprofit, to raise awareness of the benefits of playing table tennis. I was. The group has more than 200 of his chapters in 26 countries and hosts play classes for Parkinson’s patients.
The goal is to improve attention, movement, mood and social connectivity for people striving to overcome a progressive disease that affects 1 in 100 people over the age of 60. It is seen more often in men than in women.
According to Kera, when Parkinson’s sufferers play games, areas of the brain typically affected by Parkinson’s that process tasks such as planning and problem-solving are activated.
Seltzer performs every Tuesday night in River Edge, New Jersey with other Parkinson’s patients and volunteers. He said the benefits of playing table tennis last for days.
“It’s a little stiff at the start. The shots are a little off. The timing is a little off and it’s a little frustrating. And then about 15 to 20 minutes later, all of a sudden things kicked in,” Seltzer said.
Ping Pong Parkinson has an international competition, and Seltzer said he wants to compete next year.
Meg Oliver
