Table tennis

I went back to the Parkinsons table tennis club this week after a few weeks off because of eye surgery.

I was pleased that I could just hit the ping pong balls but I was very unsteady on my feet. I was also cautious of bending forward. Time will tell whether I improve. I really think I need to discuss things with my Parkinsons nurse. I just want to be safe and careful.

Exercise is important, moving around, keeping active. If I don’t my muscles will atrophy. I think I need physiotherapy. Wish me luck. I’m so tired I’m going to get a nap.

Ping pong

I took this photo after playing table tennis today. I’d popped this ping pong ball into my pocket and took it home by mistake. I haven’t been to the group for a few months after I was ill. I’m not sure if I’m fully recovered but decided to give it a go. I managed to play a bit but had to take breaks. Since I got home I’ve been really tired and I think I’m coming down with something. Ugh.

Movement

I’ve found through a bit of research that it’s important to keep moving if you have Parkinsons disease. So I wobble and shake my way along to the shops or to the pharmacy and back. Trying to get my slow steps in. I have looked at my movement counter but although I’m almost always getting a couple of thousand of steps in every day my heart rate barely registers!

What to do? Then someone from my surgery suggested a Parkinsons group that does table tennis (ping pong). I’d played this on the dining table at home as a young teenager and thought I’d have a go. My worker from the surgery came down to introduce me to the group a week ago. I needed that support because I find it hard to integrate with new people because of anxiety.

So..  I went, and found that I can hit a ping pong ball across a net! I was getting my feet tangled a bit and sort of felt rather static. But I could do it. I went back this week and I’m happy I can progress. I’m going to keep going. It’s only a fortnightly thing, but I hope it will be good for me. I ache in places I didn’t know I have though!