{"id":21103,"date":"2017-11-20T13:04:52","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T21:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicalfitnessnetwork.org\/public\/?p=21103"},"modified":"2017-10-16T07:14:45","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T14:14:45","slug":"boxing-can-help-parkinsons-fighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/boxing-can-help-parkinsons-fighter\/","title":{"rendered":"How Boxing Can Help You Be a Parkinson\u2019s Fighter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Media coverage on the power of boxing to combat the symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a> has been a hot topic in the Parkinson\u2019s community. Rock Steady Boxing, a national program that initiated Parkinson\u2019s specific, non-contact boxing programs with certified coaches, has inspired local boxing gyms in our area to begin offering boxing training to our local community. So, is boxing your way to better health an option for you? More importantly, what are the benefits of this fun and energizing fitness trend?<\/p>\n

\"\"Learning how to box and executing the six common punches \u2013 jab, straight right, left hook, right hook, left uppercut and right uppercut \u2013 is a powerful way to develop your skill-related fitness. Skill-related fitness includes agility, balance, power, speed, coordination and reaction time. All these components are of particular importance to someone with Parkinson\u2019s who may be experiencing a decline in several of these areas. Shadow boxing (punching the hands of a trainer in front of you in a sequence) helps improve speed, coordination and reaction time. Taking lateral steps around a boxing ring helps reinforce balance and agility. Putting your body into a split stance to throw your punches helps to strengthen your lower body and make you more stable.<\/p>\n

Another excellent advantage to boxing is it enhances your cognitive fitness. Many people with Parkinson\u2019s experience some challenges with clarity of thought, memory, and ability to do certain tasks. Learning boxing punches in sequence and repeating them helps to create new neural pathways which help to strengthen your brain and your functionality. Being exposed to and learning this new activity also helps improve your cognitive abilities.<\/p>\n

What may be the most important reason to take up boxing is the feeling of strength and empowerment you will feel as you literally \u201cfight\u201d this disease. Punching a boxing bag can help relieve stress, make you feel in control, and give you an incredibly productive outlet. Boxing is fun, it\u2019s invigorating, and it\u2019s energizing.<\/p>\n

In order to participate safely, be sure to get your physician\u2019s clearance before beginning a boxing or exercise program, and always adhere to the safety precautions outlined by your instructor.<\/p>\n

\n

Carisa Campanella, BA, AS, is an ACE Health Coach and ACSM Personal Trainer. She is the Program Manager at the\u00a0Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson\u2019s<\/a>. Neuro Challenge provides ongoing monthly support groups and educational programs, individualized care advising and community resource referrals to help empower people with Parkinson\u2019s and their caregivers.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Media coverage on the power of boxing to combat the symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s disease has been a hot topic in the Parkinson\u2019s community. Rock Steady Boxing, a national program that initiated Parkinson\u2019s specific, non-contact boxing programs with certified coaches, has inspired local boxing gyms in our area to begin offering boxing training to our local community. So, is boxing your way to better health an option for you? More importantly, what are the benefits of this fun and energizing fitness trend? Learning how to box and executing the six common punches \u2013 jab, straight right, left hook, right hook, left uppercut and right uppercut \u2013 is a powerful way to develop your skill-related fitness. Skill-related fitness includes agility, balance, power, speed, coordination and reaction time. All these components are of particular importance to someone with Parkinson\u2019s who may be experiencing a decline in several of these areas. Shadow boxing (punching the hands of a trainer in front of you in a sequence) helps improve speed, coordination and reaction time. Taking lateral steps around a boxing ring helps reinforce balance and agility. Putting your body into a split stance to throw your punches helps to strengthen your lower body and make […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":211,"featured_media":21104,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[54,134,198,92],"class_list":["post-21103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-mfn","tag-exercise","tag-fitness","tag-fitness-professionals","tag-parkinsons"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/211"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21103\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}