WRITTEN BY ANNE GABBIANELLI
“When I look over and see Kevin playing ping pong, it’s like someone who doesn’t have Parkinson’s,” said Kate Hanson whose husband, Kevin Finnigan, was diagnosed 10 years ago. “It was devastating,” he shared.
For Chris Mattson, he was “scared to death” with his diagnosis in 2018 after five years of experiencing tremors.
David Smith’s diagnosis came five years ago. “It is a struggle for everyone with Parkinson’s to overcome many of the symptoms like fatigue, lack of motivation, inability to get things done like in the past.”
All three men face their challenging days with games of ping pong, reminding them of their childhood.
“There is lots of information about how beneficial ping pong is for those with Parkinson’s,” Smith said.
Holding the paddle to show how his hand was trembling, Smith said, “But once that ball heads my way, my brain focuses on that and my tremor stops — it’s fascinating!”
Table tennis is advantageous for those with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects a person’s movement. PingPongParkinson® was founded in 2017 by musician Nenad Bach.
“What began as a simple game of ping pong soon became a transformative experience,” Bach claimed. And that is just what the trio in Belfast are appreciating.
Paul Naron, owner of the building that houses the farmer’s market in Belfast, started a ping pong club three years ago. Smith’s son Andy mentioned it to him.
“I was so excited about playing ping pong,” Smith said. “I wanted to see for myself what it was like to play now that I had Parkinson’s. I even won the first tournament! I had played when I was a kid, and Andy and I had a pretty fierce competition going in our own basement at home.”
“Folks hadn’t played in about 20 years, and it’s like revisiting their younger days in college or basement ping pong,” Naron said. “We all have a great time. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to meet people, but those guys with Parksinson’s, they need to play because it’s been a true benefit.”
The key for these men is staying active. Mattson said that while Parkinson’s affects people in different ways, he still managed to walk five miles the morning I met him around the ping pong table.
“I attend a class three days a week at the Y that is a cardio workout with weights and dance steps to the music,” Mattson said. “It’s engaging the brain and it does curb the tremors.”
Finnigan just started playing ping pong in October.
“It’s a great experience,” he said. “I got booted out of playing pickle ball out of concern for my safety,” he shared with a smile, “but with ping pong, you’re not in danger of falling.”
With a volley going on between Smith and Finnigan, it was apparent the camaraderie was as valuable as the exercise. Mattson commented how he met Smith through a support group.
“It’s an awesome group we attend in Camden, and we spend a lot of time supporting each other,” Mattson said. “The support group is for the caregivers as well.”