Featured on Arizona PBS, Jamie Nesbit, PT, D.P.T., Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and Suzanne O鈥橬eal, PT, D.P.T., Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, 黑料传送门 College of Health Sciences were interviewed to discuss their new study on the effects that playing pickleball can have on patients with Parkinson鈥檚 disease. Tara McIsaac, PT, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Therapy, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and Patrice Ayala, PT, D.P.T., Assistant Professor, Assistant Director of Clinical Education, 黑料传送门 College of Health Sciences were also researchers in the study.
鈥淧arkinson鈥檚 disease is a neurologic disorder that affects the body鈥檚 ability to move,鈥 Dr. O鈥橬eal explained. 鈥淧eople with Parkinson鈥檚 typically get tremors and they find it hard to move, so they move more slowly, with smaller movements.鈥
Inspired by one of Dr. Nesbit鈥檚 patients, the study considered whether playing pickleball regularly improved the patients鈥:
- Coordination
- Balance
- Walking ability
- Hand function
- Quality of life
Following the six-week study, patients reported:
- Improved social interactions
- Enjoyment of the sport鈥檚 camaraderie and competition
- Improved cognitive skills
Some patients even reported that they forgot that they had Parkinson鈥檚 while engaged in playing Pickleball.
鈥淧ickleball is a great overarching sport because it forces them to move big and fast,鈥 Dr. O鈥橬eal said. 鈥淧ickleball is the hottest sport currently, so being able to participate and embed yourself in a sport just like everyone else, that can improve mental and emotional health.鈥
Dr. Nesbit agreed. 鈥淓xercise is medicine for people with Parkinson鈥檚, so pickleball allows reaching, moving, camaraderie, and that social aspect gives dopamine hits,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ecause of Parkinson鈥檚, you don鈥檛 have as much dopamine to use, and that causes non-motor symptoms like cognition and depression. While we weren鈥檛 measuring dopamine specifically, we saw that mood, socialization, movement, and fine motor skills were improved.鈥
The participants now play together every week.
Dr. Nesbit was also clear that exercise in general is what produces positive outcomes, not solely pickleball. 鈥淚n general, we want people to find something they enjoy鈥 it just happens that people enjoy pickleball. Any movement is going to help improve any neurologic disorder.鈥
Dr. Nesbit and Dr. O鈥橬eal hope to do a larger, more controlled study in the future.
To watch the full interview on Arizona PBS, click here:
