Anyone for tennis?

I haven't picked up a tennis racket for about 30 years, but this year I am going to. Spurred on by my seemingly unaltered eye/hand/ball co-ordination ( or puck ) and the ability to thrash a PWtP (person without PD) at air hockey I thought I'd dust down my little white skirt and slazenger. Well ok tracksuit and borrowed racket! I'll let you know if its as good as drumming. I know one thing I couldn't serve pre dx so I've no chance now! Most importantly it is a new challenge, and that is ever important. Really I'd love to ice skate and the recent 30 year anniversary of Bolero got me all misty for some white skates and an even shorter skirt but since I was utterly useless at Birmingham Silver Blades c1978 on a school trip, I decided to give myself at least a fighting chance! I saw my consultant today was told I remain 'remarkable' a word I'm hanging on too. I was invited to sit on some new Neuro Board in Scotland, so that sounds good, and I took the team maltesers - well its not really chocolate! And the point of this post, well … go have a go! Whatever it is! And if you live in the Borders I'm looking for a tennis partner! kindest CHH

[Johnsilk]

Well said.The spirit of Bryn Williams lives in the next generation of folk from Scotland with PD.

[Pete-1]

The trouble with tennis is when you miss its miles before you catch up with the ball. No I always preferred badders, The last time I played I knackered my knee and I haven't dared play again. . . . yet. The time before that I managed to beat a normal and very fit person who runs and cycles a thousand miles a day. I was quite pleased especially since I was already having trouble with gait freezing. My super fit opponent did not seem quite so pleased. He is a very competitive person so to be beaten by a super unfit slob with PD probably didn't go down too well. He didn't say anything about it I am just assuming, but it is a sound assumption.

Anyway the thing is this game was a good reminder of my youth and was gratifying in that I could still play a bit. So as well as trying something new you can also re-try something old and get a refreshing blast from the past.

[rch21]

good luck with the tennis! I haven't played for years and never could serve well, but perhaps if I tried again the PD might improve it? Anyway, anything that keeps you moving is good so keep doing.

[qpr47]

Playing tennis three times a week plus walking most days and tai chi every day is holding back the degeneration of my Parkinson's Disease unfortunately I live too far away to be a potential tennis partner ! Regards

DB

[DeParkiePoet in reply to qpr47]

Tai Chi? Tennis? are you guys nuts? If you are, I'm cheering "good for you " I'm buying new balls today because my old ones were made in 1949!

[PatV]

good for you! Once this horrible winter is over and my finances have recuperated from my mother's funeral, I plan to take ball room dancing again. Found a willing teacher. My mom was 93 and had a severe stroke in June. Her last months in a nursing home. I'm 73 and plan to keep moving. PD or no. In the meantime there's training for the April Parkinson's Walk . GO TEAM BOLD MOVES.

[jernor]

Congratulations on your determination to re-launch tennis into your exercise regimen!

[Traveller1]

well done, go for it. I was diagnosed nearly 2 years ago , used to go to pump, spin and run three times a week. Tried to go to the gym still but felt conscious of "shaky sue" ,the tremor in my left arm, so stopped going and was scared to run in case i fell. Well, have just downloaded NHS Choices 5 k run podcast and have managed 2 sessions of the first week, actually ran and felt GREAT, so I'm with you--- give it a go.

[DeParkiePoet]

Tally Ho! I'm ready to play, we could play Scot Vs Florida Irisher. It would be great to play again. I'm ready, Eddie! !(:~)

[pedserv]

Good for all of you! As for me, I play golf at a walk only golf course 3 days a week (weather permitting) and work out 2 hours a week with a trainer who is expert at training folks with nuero problems.

[johntPM]

It's interesting that we, PwP, have some skills which are better preserved than others.

My tennis skills before PD were average. But, even now, almost 9 years since diagnosis, they have seen little deterioration. Catching a ball and walking are still very good.

On the other hand, typing is very bad, as is getting dressed.

Rather than just focus on what PwP can't do, it may be worth researching also on what we can do. I suspect that PD is more than one disease.

John

[JohnPepper]

All this talk about tennis, and more, reminds me that my first Pd symptom was my sudden inability to throw a ball, when trying to play a friendly game of cricket in 1963. I had been able to throw a ball, when younger, but at 29 I should have still been able to do so. Later, in 1976, I found that I could not serve properly at tennis, because I could not throw the ball in the air, in order to serve it. All this boils down to loss of coordination. Pd affects our coordination, amongst other things. If we stop playing any games, because we are uncoordinated, then we go downhill very quickly. I found that, although my walking was also affected, I was able to focus on the walking action and overcome the problem. That is, when I managed to continue focusing on the movements. That has helped me overcome many other Pd problems. It is all in the mind!

John