A Vancouver Island Pickleball Club has started a pilot program that aims to help people with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t was great to be out there,香蕉视频直播� said Watson, who also attends the Rock Steady boxing program at the Fluid Fitness Studio that is geared towards helping people combat Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚. 香蕉视频直播淚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.香蕉视频直播�
Watson香蕉视频直播檚 wife, Maire, was impressed with the program.
香蕉视频直播淢y heart is full on what they香蕉视频直播檙e doing,香蕉视频直播� said Maire. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e doing this on a volunteer basis. It香蕉视频直播檚 fantastic. People are not aware of this being given out to the community.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檙e doing and also hand out self-assessment forms for participants to fill out and bring back for the next session.
香蕉视频直播淭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香蕉视频直播檚 successful, that they can introduce it themselves,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淗e was able to play pickleball for an additional 10 years,香蕉视频直播� said Pallot. 香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�
Pallot, also a pickleball instructor for the Regional District of Nanaimo, was also made aware some of the students that registered had Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚. He also learned that they attend the Rock Steady boxing program run by Doug Pickard, a strong supporter of Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 disease research and volunteer facilitator of the Oceanside Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 Disease Support Group.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 all about exercise and how important it is to people with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚, diabetes or various ailments,香蕉视频直播� said Pallot. 香蕉视频直播淓xercise is life extending. And that to me, means a lot especially if you香蕉视频直播檝e got Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 or a debilitating disease. That香蕉视频直播檚 why I thought this is very worthwhile.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淥ur club has retired doctors who has helped us with the program as well as retired nurses,香蕉视频直播� said Pallot. 香蕉视频直播淭hey were present during the initial lessons to observe and make sure we香蕉视频直播檙e not working them hard, which we certainly didn香蕉视频直播檛. They also made sure we gave them ample rest breaks.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just amazing what they do and how they香蕉视频直播檙e impacting the lives of people with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚,香蕉视频直播� said Maire. 香蕉视频直播淭he social engagement. They talk about the various symptoms they香蕉视频直播檈 experiencing everyday. They watch each other, care for one another and encourage each other. They know, that they香蕉视频直播檝e got to push hard to try and stay mobile.香蕉视频直播�
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