“You tremble at rest – when you are doing something, you don’t tremble as much”
Medicine is of course important, but for people living with Parkinson’s disease, activity and exercise are considered particularly good.
– Ping-pong improves balance, it improves coordination and also the ability to react. This reduces the risk of falling, which is a minor concern, says Ulf Ekström, project assistant for the Pingis parkinson project.
“Ping-pong means a lot”
The project is run by Spårvägens BTK in Stockholm, with the help of funds from the Allmänna arvsfonden. The group for people playing table tennis with Parkinson’s disease now has around 50 members.
– The aim is to get as many people with Parkinson’s as possible to start trying table tennis, says Ulf Ekström in Nyhetsmorgon.
Table tennis becomes a pleasurable form of rehabilitation for people with Parkinson’s disease. Ulf Ekström received his diagnosis in autumn 2021.
– The table tennis has meant a lot! It’s one of the most fun sports to play. It is quite difficult, so there is a lot to practice. You can improve when you train a lot and I train quite a lot.
What happens when you play?
– Then a lot disappears. You tremble at rest – when you are doing something, you don’t tremble as much.
Community important
Ulf Ekström notices a big difference in his physical well-being when he trains twice a week, but also the psychological, as the community is also very important.
– During a shift of two hours, we drink coffee for half an hour. Social is important! It is easy to end up at home when you have Parkinson’s and do not venture out. But it is important not to socialize, he says.
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the slow loss of nerve cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Symptoms include tremors in the body and slower movements. There are currently no drugs that cure, but effective medications that help control the symptoms.