A Vancouver Island Pickleball Club has started a pilot program that aims to help people with Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚t was great to be out there,91裸聊视频� said Watson, who also attends the Rock Steady boxing program at the Fluid Fitness Studio that is geared towards helping people combat Parkinson91裸聊视频檚. 91裸聊视频淚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.91裸聊视频�
Watson91裸聊视频檚 wife, Maire, was impressed with the program.
91裸聊视频淢y heart is full on what they91裸聊视频檙e doing,91裸聊视频� said Maire. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e doing this on a volunteer basis. It91裸聊视频檚 fantastic. People are not aware of this being given out to the community.91裸聊视频�
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 they91裸聊视频檙e doing and also hand out self-assessment forms for participants to fill out and bring back for the next session.
91裸聊视频淭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 it91裸聊视频檚 successful, that they can introduce it themselves,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淗e was able to play pickleball for an additional 10 years,91裸聊视频� said Pallot. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�
Pallot, also a pickleball instructor for the Regional District of Nanaimo, was also made aware some of the students that registered had Parkinson91裸聊视频檚. He also learned that they attend the Rock Steady boxing program run by Doug Pickard, a strong supporter of Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 disease research and volunteer facilitator of the Oceanside Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 Disease Support Group.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 all about exercise and how important it is to people with Parkinson91裸聊视频檚, diabetes or various ailments,91裸聊视频� said Pallot. 91裸聊视频淓xercise is life extending. And that to me, means a lot especially if you91裸聊视频檝e got Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 or a debilitating disease. That91裸聊视频檚 why I thought this is very worthwhile.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淥ur club has retired doctors who has helped us with the program as well as retired nurses,91裸聊视频� said Pallot. 91裸聊视频淭hey were present during the initial lessons to observe and make sure we91裸聊视频檙e not working them hard, which we certainly didn91裸聊视频檛. They also made sure we gave them ample rest breaks.91裸聊视频�
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 Parkinson91裸聊视频檚.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just amazing what they do and how they91裸聊视频檙e impacting the lives of people with Parkinson91裸聊视频檚,91裸聊视频� said Maire. 91裸聊视频淭he social engagement. They talk about the various symptoms they91裸聊视频檈 experiencing everyday. They watch each other, care for one another and encourage each other. They know, that they91裸聊视频檝e got to push hard to try and stay mobile.91裸聊视频�
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