Featured on Arizona PBS, Jamie Nesbit, PT, D.P.T., Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Creighton University Health Sciences and Suzanne O’Neal, PT, D.P.T., Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, Midwestern University College of Health Sciences were interviewed to discuss their new study on the effects that playing pickleball can have on patients with Parkinson’s disease.
“Parkinson’s disease is a neurologic disorder that affects the body’s ability to move,” Dr. O’Neal explained. “People with Parkinson’s typically get tremors and they find it hard to move, so they move more slowly, with smaller movements.”
Inspired by one of Dr. Nesbit’s patients, the study considered whether playing pickleball regularly improved the patients’:
- Coordination
- Balance
- Walking ability
- Hand function
- Quality of life
Following the six-week study, patients reported:
- Improved social interactions
- Enjoyment of the sport’s camaraderie and competition
- Improved cognitive skills
Some patients even reported that they forgot that they had Parkinson’s while engaged in playing Pickleball.
“Pickleball is a great overarching sport because it forces them to move big and fast,” Dr. O’Neal said. “Pickleball 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.”
Dr. Nesbit agreed. “Exercise is medicine for people with Parkinson’s, so pickleball allows reaching, moving, camaraderie, and that social aspect gives dopamine hits,” she said. “Because of Parkinson’s, you don’t have as much dopamine to use, and that causes non-motor symptoms like cognition and depression. While we weren’t measuring dopamine specifically, we saw that mood, socialization, movement, and fine motor skills were improved.”
The participants now play together every week.
Dr. Nesbit was also clear that exercise in general is what produces positive outcomes, not solely pickleball. “In general, we want people to find something they enjoy… it just happens that people enjoy pickleball. Any movement is going to help improve any neurologic disorder.”
Dr. Nesbit and Dr. O’Neal hope to do a larger, more controlled study in the future.
To watch the full interview on Arizona PBS, click here:
