A Vancouver Island Pickleball Club has started a pilot program that aims to help people with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease.
A group of eight people with the neurodegenerative disease were first introduced to pickleball by the Parksville-based Oceanside Pickleball Club instructors Ernie Pallot and Sharon Fox on July 25.
Despite having to play when the heat was a bit intense at noon, participants savoured the experience and left feeling good and extremely appreciative of the opportunity. One of them was Duncan Watson, who was diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago.
害羞草研究所淚t was great to be out there,害羞草研究所� said Watson, who also attends the Rock Steady boxing program at the Fluid Fitness Studio that is geared towards helping people combat Parkinson害羞草研究所檚. 害羞草研究所淚t was a hot day. I was a bit wilted in the end but there are no ill effects the next day. So I am looking forward to our next sojourn with Ernie.害羞草研究所�
Watson害羞草研究所檚 wife, Maire, was impressed with the program.
害羞草研究所淢y heart is full on what they害羞草研究所檙e doing,害羞草研究所� said Maire. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e doing this on a volunteer basis. It害羞草研究所檚 fantastic. People are not aware of this being given out to the community.害羞草研究所�
Pallot and Fox held basic lessons that included tossing the ball around, hand-throwing the ball and hitting the ball with each other simply to give them a good feel for the game.
During the course of the lessons, Pallot indicated they will keep a record of everything they害羞草研究所檙e doing and also hand out self-assessment forms for participants to fill out and bring back for the next session.
害羞草研究所淭he reason why I want to do this as a pilot program is to have the information available so that we can make it known to the various associations and clubs across Canada, if it害羞草研究所檚 successful, that they can introduce it themselves,害羞草研究所� said Pallot, who added that Pickleball BC and Pickleball Canada are quite keen to learn more from the program.
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Pallot started the program in the spring. He was inspired by friend who was diagnosed with the disease and had to give up tennis but switched to pickleball.
害羞草研究所淗e was able to play pickleball for an additional 10 years,害羞草研究所� said Pallot. 害羞草研究所淭he only reason he gave it up was his wife started asking him where he is getting the bruises from. He had to admit he was tripping and falling. So she made him give it up.害羞草研究所�
Pallot, also a pickleball instructor for the Regional District of Nanaimo, was also made aware some of the students that registered had Parkinson害羞草研究所檚. He also learned that they attend the Rock Steady boxing program run by Doug Pickard, a strong supporter of Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease research and volunteer facilitator of the Oceanside Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 Disease Support Group.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all about exercise and how important it is to people with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚, diabetes or various ailments,害羞草研究所� said Pallot. 害羞草研究所淓xercise is life extending. And that to me, means a lot especially if you害羞草研究所檝e got Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 or a debilitating disease. That害羞草研究所檚 why I thought this is very worthwhile.害羞草研究所�
Pallot said they made sure the club covered all the grounds before starting the program. It includes having liability insurance and also making it a prerequisite for participants to get clearance from their doctors to participate.
害羞草研究所淥ur club has retired doctors who has helped us with the program as well as retired nurses,害羞草研究所� said Pallot. 害羞草研究所淭hey were present during the initial lessons to observe and make sure we害羞草研究所檙e not working them hard, which we certainly didn害羞草研究所檛. They also made sure we gave them ample rest breaks.害羞草研究所�
Pallot said one of his objectives is to help the participants reach a level where they can join OPC Pickleball Club or any other club and be able to play as a novice player.
Maire said she is truly grateful for the community initiatives that helps people like her husband Duncan fight Parkinson害羞草研究所檚.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just amazing what they do and how they害羞草研究所檙e impacting the lives of people with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚,害羞草研究所� said Maire. 害羞草研究所淭he social engagement. They talk about the various symptoms they害羞草研究所檈 experiencing everyday. They watch each other, care for one another and encourage each other. They know, that they害羞草研究所檝e got to push hard to try and stay mobile.害羞草研究所�
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