Pickleball Therapy for Parkinson’s: Pickleball is helping people with Parkinson’s disease improve their health in the Lowcountry. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has created a program called “Pick It Up for Parkinson’s” to teach people with the disease how to play pickleball safely, helping them stay active and healthy.
The program was developed by Dr. Vanessa Hinson, a professor of neurology and the Director of the Movement Disorders Program at MUSC. She explained that Parkinson’s disease causes slowness, stiffness, balance issues, and mobility problems. The program ensures participants can play pickleball at a pace and with movements that are safe for their condition.
“A person with Parkinson’s disease, which is an illness that comes with slowness, stiffness, some balance problems, and mobility issues, needs to know what movements they can do and at what pace safely without falling or losing their balance.” – (Dr. Vanessa Hinson)
Program Helps Patients Stay Active
Dr. Hinson said that while there is no medication to stop Parkinson’s from progressing, intense exercise like pickleball can delay the disease’s symptoms.
“There’s no medication on the shelf that will delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease, but we know from science that intense exercise, which pickleball is, I tell you, from having played it myself, will do that. It will delay the progression of symptoms. And that’s what people with Parkinson’s are after.” – (Dr. Vanessa Hinson)
The game is an important part of helping people with Parkinson’s feel better and live longer, healthier lives. One of the program’s participants, Marion Usdan, shared how pickleball has positively impacted her daily life.
“Well, I had my life before Parkinson’s. So, that’s really the key to the whole element. So, whoever I was, continued with Parkinson’s and the adaptability to it. So, whatever the game is, I want to be able to adapt and rise to the occasion because we’re looking for a longer life in a healthier, happier situation.” – (Usdan)
Usdan emphasized that even though she is not an athlete, pickleball helps her with everyday tasks like getting in and out of a car and reaching for things.
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Building a Supportive Community
The program also helps participants connect with others facing similar challenges. Usdan said that while pickleball is fun and beneficial, the most important part is the support from others who understand her struggles.
“You don’t have to be an athlete because, like I said, I am not, but you can play the game and be out there doing things. That’s the most important thing. It helps you in getting in and out of the car, reaching for things and everything like that. But it’s really to expose yourself to challenges. So that’s the major thing we’ve all tried to do throughout our lives and everything.” – (Usdan)
Dr. Hinson is hopeful that the success of the “Pick It Up for Parkinson’s” program will inspire similar initiatives across the country. The positive effects of pickleball are not just physical but emotional, building a sense of community among participants.
News in Brief: Pickleball Therapy for Parkinson’s
The “Pick It Up for Parkinson’s” program at MUSC uses pickleball to help people with Parkinson’s disease stay active and improve their health. The program has seen positive impacts on balance, mobility, and daily life, with hopes it will expand nationwide.
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