The Lower Shore Table Tennis Club is a project developed by the Lower Shore Parkinson’s Support Group to provide a valuable and enjoyable venue for exercise for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their families, without cost. Additionally, use of the Club equipment, including six tables and a practice robot, will be open to the general public for a modest fee.
As we get ready to launch, come check out the Club and play for free at one of the upcoming “open house” preview opportunities:
Tuesday, September 9th, 4:00 p.m. to 7:p.m. and
Saturday, September 13th, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Club is located inside Crown Sports Center, 28410 Crown Road, south of Fruitland, MD
We had lots of help in making this goal a reality, particularly from Crown Sports Center, the Rotary Club of Salisbury, and a handful of early sponsors. Learn more about the Club and those who made it possible at our new web site: www.LSTTClub.org
Why table tennis? Almost any form of consistent exercise is healthy for you, and this is especially true for individuals with a movement disorder related disease such as Parkinson’s. There is no cure for PD, and while medications and surgical interventions may mute some symptoms and improve one’s quality of life for a period of time, neither treatment is proven to slow the progression of the disease. However, “there is increasing evidence that aerobic and learning-based exercises could be neuroprotective….Exercises challenging the individual to change tempo, activity or direction benefit people with Parkinson’s disease.” (The Parkinson’s Disease Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco).
But, why table tennis? Because it utilizes more of the body and brain than most other sports. Clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen states “It [table tennis] improves hand-eye coordination. It’s aerobic, uses both upper and lower body and causes you to use many different areas of the brain to function…Golf is good. Tennis is terrific. Table tennis is the best sport in the world!”
And it’s fun! Table tennis may be played in singles, doubles or mixed doubles formats; for the social interaction or to satisfy a competitive urge utilizing open play, leagues or tournaments. It is a sport that may be played throughout the year, at a club or in the privacy of your home.
Hope to see you at the Club. Please direct questions about the Club to PDLowerShore@gmail.com or (410) 742-1128. To learn more about Parkinson’s disease and our support group please visit www.PDLowerShore.org
