A table tennis session at Southbury Leisure Centre for people with Parkinson's — *A table tennis session at Southbury Leisure Centre for people with Parkinson’s*

Table tennis sessions designed to be suitable for people with Parkinson’s disease are launching at Southbury Leisure Centre.

Fusion Lifestyle and Enfield Council, in collaboration with national charity Parkinson’s UK, are set to run the Parkinson’s friendly table tennis sessions at Southbury Leisure Centre.

The table tennis sessions are in addition to an existing Parkinson’s exercise group that is already run at Southbury, ensuring those diagnosed with the disease have plenty of opportunities to keep active at their local leisure centre.

The exercise group attracts 15-20 people per week, with exercises planned according to participant ability by the trainer. The new table tennis sessions will focus on co-ordination, proprioception, balance and hand/eye co-ordination, which are all key to helping manage Parkinson’s.

The sessions will see specific movements added both at the table and off the table to help focus on these areas, benefiting day-to-day living. The social interaction from a less formal session will also allow people to interact freely and share experiences.

Fusion Lifestyle is the operator of the council’s five leisure centres. Dominic Hall, the firm’s sports and community development officer in Enfield, said: “A Parkinson’s diagnosis is difficult for those affected and their families. We are really pleased that we can offer these sessions to help those affected keep active and to bring families together to share their experiences.”

Chinelo Anyanwu, the council’s cabinet member for public spaces, culture and local economy, said: “This is a great initiative. It’s important to make sure we are offering specialist classes to those in the community who need them.”

Find out more about any of the the Parkinson’s exercise sessions:
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