Managing Parkinson's – with pickleball and boxing

A man with Parkinson's who is enjoying sports from pickleball to table tennis says more people with the disorder should join in.

Steve Webber is taking part in all sorts of activities as part of a pilot project at Cirencester Leisure Centre, funded by Cotswold District Council.

He said sports made "life itself more bearable" and that he had learned tips on how to manage his symptoms from fellow players.

Kevin Young, chairman of the Cirencester and Stroud branch of Parkinson's UK, which is delivering the project, said symptoms appear to be "less of an issue" for those playing sports, as they are "concentrating on what they're doing" instead.

Parkinson's affects the brain, nervous system, and muscle control.

It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with around 153,000 people in the UK living with the condition.

Pickleball – which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong – is on offer as part of the pilot, as is Nordic walking and boxing.

Mr Young said: "We might change the rules slightly to help them but getting active is the most important thing.

"As soon as someone with Parkinson's gets involved in exercise, it appears that their Parkinson's symptoms [are] less of an issue for them because they're concentrating on what they're doing.

"It means a lot to me that I can help people in my branch."

Mr Webber has been taking part in the sports on offer for a couple of years.

He said meeting others who live with Parkinson's allows him to learn their "tricks" on how to manage his symptoms, even if the disorder affects them differently.

"It seems that with sport, and particularly when it's a reflex action, you haven't got the time to think and it seems to come easily," Mr Webber said.

"Anybody, anywhere, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's: Please join the local group, get to know the fellow fighters."

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