Our Mission
Our mission is to create a global sports movement that is inclusive and supportive of people with a Parkinson’s diagnosis. We are the first and only world table tennis championship organizers dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of playing ping pong for the Parkinson’s community.
We want to be recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IOC). You can help us by making your support count!
We want to be recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IOC). You can help us by making your support count!
AboutWe are PingPongParkinson® , a 501 c3 non-profit organization located at the Westchester Table Tennis Center, 175 Tompkins Avenue, Pleasantville, New York (approximately 35 miles north of New York City). We were established officially on the first of March 2017 with the goal of halting the progression of Parkinson’s Disease by utilizing ping pong as a form of physical therapy. Our model is based on the concept of neuroplasticity – the brain’s capacity to make new neurons and connections through challenging physical exercise. Although medication remains the focus in the treatment for Parkinson’s, there is compelling evidence for the need for a regular exercise program in managing this disease.
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The original idea behind this commitment to help Parkinson patients (“Pongers”) attain an improved quality of life through exercise was inspired by Nenad Bach, a Croatian-American musician and rock star. Nenad had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and noticed that his motor symptoms and mood were improved by playing ping pong. This non-pharmacological approach to his treatment was encouraged by his neurologists who confirmed his improved status. Nenad subsequently recruited several volunteers from the club, including Will Shortz, the crossword editor of the New York Times and the owner of the Westchester Table Tennis Center, Dr. Art Dubow, who together with Nenad created the PPP program; plus Irene Silbert, a PR professional – all working together to establish the PPP group.
The group meets for about 90 minutes every Wednesday at 7:30 PM. The sessions begin with a warm-up consisting of physical exercises designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s Disease. Juggling practice and instruction follows before commencing the table tennis. Each “Ponger” is teamed with a volunteer at the tables and play is finally concluded with a video to chronicle each individual’s ping pong skills and progress.
Every three months there is scheduled a special informal dinner event, which can range from a tournament to having speakers give talks on topical subjects relating to PD. We have also established an annual tournament in which we hope to attract contestants from the US and internationally.
Our goal remains steadfast: To help anyone with Parkinson’s Disease through ping pong (primarily) – and to have fun while doing it.
The group meets for about 90 minutes every Wednesday at 7:30 PM. The sessions begin with a warm-up consisting of physical exercises designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s Disease. Juggling practice and instruction follows before commencing the table tennis. Each “Ponger” is teamed with a volunteer at the tables and play is finally concluded with a video to chronicle each individual’s ping pong skills and progress.
Every three months there is scheduled a special informal dinner event, which can range from a tournament to having speakers give talks on topical subjects relating to PD. We have also established an annual tournament in which we hope to attract contestants from the US and internationally.
Our goal remains steadfast: To help anyone with Parkinson’s Disease through ping pong (primarily) – and to have fun while doing it.
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You want to talk to us:
Westchester Table Tennis Center 175 Tompkins Avenue Pleasantville, NY 10570 Nenad Bach +1.914.271.7771 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Webmaster: Flipcause |
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Weekly Meeting Program
I. Introductions – 5 minutes
A: Welcome new people; indicate the session number
B: Formal introductions; in a circle, everyone projecting his/her voice
C: Announcements
D: Optional: Parkinson medical news updates
II. Exercises 8-10 minutes
1. Yoga related
2. Wrist/arms/hands/fingers
3. Lunges
4. Torso twist (with or without ping pong paddles)
5. “Ping Pong Pick-up”
6. Balancing
7. Aerobic
8 Ping Pong Coordination exercises
III. Ping Pong Demonstration
An instructional block, 3-5 minutes a different facet of table tennis demonstrated each week (e.g., forehand push, backhand topspin)
IV. Main Ping Pong Session
Approximately 45 minutes consisting of 3 or 4 rotations
A: Welcome new people; indicate the session number
B: Formal introductions; in a circle, everyone projecting his/her voice
C: Announcements
D: Optional: Parkinson medical news updates
II. Exercises 8-10 minutes
1. Yoga related
- Deep, relaxing breaths with hands slowly carried overhead (inhale), and down (exhale); Repeat 3-5 times
- Neck exercises: Turn left, right, circular rotations; chin tuck (touching chest)
- “Pistol of Love” – weight on heels, hands forming pistol carried overhead, stretching toward ceiling while looking up at ceiling, done while leaning backwards. Repeat 2 times.
- “Pistol of Love” – formed this time behind back; arms down, stretching down. Repeat 2 times.
2. Wrist/arms/hands/fingers
- Shake out hands; arms thrust forward
- Finger grips – with arms extended horizontally, fingers flexed
- Finger taps – thumb touching each finger, both hands simultaneously.
- Wrist rotation – with arms thrust forward in horizontal position, rotate wrists back and forth (abduction/adduction).
3. Lunges
- Dual tasking; leader calls out lunges by the clock (e.g., 2 o’clock = right leg lunge forward at 45 degrees).
4. Torso twist (with or without ping pong paddles)
- Lateral and medial rotations, 180 degrees, five times
5. “Ping Pong Pick-up”
- Modified deep knee bends with support of one hand on one knee (alternating) as the opposite hand touches floor; reverse hands; 2 times
6. Balancing
- Standing tree, airplane, Romberg – one foot lined up behind the other; eyes open, eyes closed; hold position (stance) for 3-5 seconds.
7. Aerobic
- Jumping jacks, knee lifts in place (touching elbow to knee while raising leg); straddles (back and forth laterally
8 Ping Pong Coordination exercises
- Bounce ball off racket 10 times, dominant and non-dominant hands.
- Reverse hits – 10 times while alternating hits on both sides of the racket
- Big bounce (high bounce) off racket and then allowing ball to stop bouncing while controlling racket.
- Walking while bouncing ball on racket.
III. Ping Pong Demonstration
An instructional block, 3-5 minutes a different facet of table tennis demonstrated each week (e.g., forehand push, backhand topspin)
IV. Main Ping Pong Session
Approximately 45 minutes consisting of 3 or 4 rotations
- Singles tables, doubles, robot table, instructional table (one on one instruction for those Pongers starting out)
- Boxing bag – instructor calls out jab, cross or uppercut with left or right hand (a dual task activity)
- Juggling (with an instructor), light weight lifting (with an instructor).
Board of Directors
Nenad Bach
President and Founder |
Will Shortz
Vice-President and Co-Founder |
Dr. Warren Rosenberg
Official Photographer |
PingPongParkinson®
Advisory Board Members
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Will ShortzBio
Will owns the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, N.Y., the birthplace of PingPongParkinson®. By profession, he is the crossword editor of The New York Times. |
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Zoran PrimoracBio
Zoran is one of the best players in the history of the game, with strong connections to the IOC, and representing the Table Tennis Industry and brands such as Butterfly. Zoran is a seven-time Olympian and is Vice President of ITTF. |
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Ian MarshallBio
Ian is a legendary table tennis journalist and was the master of ceremony at the New York Inaugural ITTF Parkinson World Table Tennis Championship. Ian is Editor-in-Chief of Swaythling Magazine. |
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Dana TokazBio
Dana is an international table tennis referee and an award-winning coach, with an academic expertise in physical education, including a Master’s Degree in Racket Sports from the University of Jordan. |
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Andreas PreussBio
Known as "Mister Borussia Düsseldorf", Andreas began his career as a young player, and held management and coaching roles with Wilfried Micke. Since 2006, Andreas has been manager of Borussia Düsseldorf. |
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HRH Princess Zeina RashidBio
Two-time Olympian in table tennis. She is founder of Jordan’s Olympic Preparation Program, and is a member of the Jordan Olympic Committee and the ITTF Foundation Board. |
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Ernesto EbuenBio
Ernesto is co-founder of NYCTTA, PINGPOD, and is a six-time champion in Philippine Table Tennis. He has been a dedicated coach for more than a decade. |
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Peter RadovichBio
Peter is Vice President of Production & Senior Creative Director at CBS Sports. He is a 40-time Emmy Awards winner, and a 60 Minutes producer. |
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Vivek KohliBio
Vivek is Chairman of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation, and owner and the Co-Chairman of Stag International. He is an early PingPongParkinson® supporter, sponsoring the first PingPongParkinson® World Championship. Vivek is an expert in sports marketing. |
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Sasha SavicBio
Sasha is CEO of Mediacom, one of the largest media and advertising companies in the world. He is the creator of countless brand-building campaigns and strategies for global brands, and actively plays Table Tennis. |
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Thomas BuzaBio
Thomas was a professional elite player in Halmstad Table Tennis Club/Sweden. Represented the Swedish national team during the years 1989-1991. Art Director for a succesful publishing house. Worked as Communications and Marketing Director for the ITTF LIEBHERR WORLD TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONHIPS in Halmstad/Sweden 2018. Secretary General of Swedish Table Tennis Association and was also part of the Petra Sörling ITTF President campaign team. |
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Ivo BachBio
Ivo is the Medical Advisor for PingPongParkinson® and Neurologist sub-specializing in vascular neurology. He is the creator of the first WC classification for people with Parkinson’s, with a goal of finding research opportunities. |
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Gail CohenBio
Gail is the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at Theravance Biopharma, She has pioneered some of the communication industry's most successful healthcare campaigns and has led numerous award-winning programs. She is a recognized expert in pharmaceutical marketing and issues management. |
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Warren RosenbergBio
Warren hold a Ph.D. in Biology from New York University and did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and co-author of the textbooks “Understanding Exercise and Physical Fitness”, “Integrated Science: The Energy Code”, and “PingPongParkinson: It Started With a Tremor and it’s Shaking Up the World”, with Nenad Bach. He is the founder and owner of the ‘New York Sports Photo Group’ and founder and publisher of ‘MetroSports Magazine. He currently serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Health Professions at The College of Westchester |
