![\"\"](\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/parkinsons-graphic-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBefore we answer the question, \u201cwhy boxing?\u201d\u00a0Let’s review the epidemiology of Parkinson\u2019s Disease. Parkinson\u2019s Disease is a progressive neurological disease and\u00a0primarily affects dopamine producing neurons in the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra is a structure located in the midbrain, and plays an important role in how the brain controls movement.\u00a0Substantia nigra is latin for \u201cblack substance,\u201d reflecting the fact that parts of the substantia nigra appear darker than neighboring areas due to higher levels of neuromelanin in dopaminergic neurons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People living with Parkinson\u2019s Disease experience\u00a0motor and non-motor symptoms such as, loss of balance, poor gait, postural issues, visual tracking problems, rigidity, tremor, freezing, facial masking, inability to focus on a task or process information clearly, bradykinesia, hypophonia (volume of voice), depression, anxiety, apathy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, consider the skills a boxer possesses. They train regularly to hone the following skills, skills that align with Parkinson\u2019s symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- STRENGTH<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- HAND-EYE COORDINATION<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- AGILITY<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- SPEED<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- MENTAL FOCUS<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- BALANCE<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- GAIT<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- CARDIO ENDURANCE<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FLEXIBILITY<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, it makes sense to include boxing in the regular exercise regimen of folks living with Parkinson\u2019s. Additionally, when you integrate boxing with essential strength exercises that aid in bone health, you build a powerful, comprehensive exercise program that results in physical and cognitive growth\u00a0and HOPE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can\u00a0anyone with Parkinson\u2019s Disease box? It depends on the person and their physical and cognitive imitations, but for the most part, the answer is yes! I work with those recently diagnosed and those fighting PD for over 27 years, ranging in age from 27-94! Some Parkinson\u2019s \u201cfighters\u201d only have a slight finger tremor, while some are wheelchair bound. However, the one thing they have in common – the spirit to fight!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/PD-boxing-gloves-1024x601.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNow, the cherry on top of boxing\u00a0for those living with Parkinson\u2019s is the research that supports what we see each week in the gym. Rock Steady Boxing, a nationally recognized Parkinson\u2019s fitness program located in Indianapolis, has been the focus of many research projects over the last 10 years to provide concrete supporting data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Exercise is medicine! <\/strong>– Research by Johansson, Hanna et al reports that exercise is shown on a functional MRI (displays which areas of the brain are most active) to improve signal transmission in the PD brain, effectively demonstrating neuroprotection and neuroplastic changes related to exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Neuroplasticity <\/em>is the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning, or experience, or following injury.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Neuroprotection<\/em> mechanisms and strategies employed to defend the central nervous system (CNS) against injury due to both acute (e.g. trauma or stroke) and chronic neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson\u2019s).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Improved Balance and Decrease Falls<\/strong> – In a national study conducted by Moore et al, shows an 87% reduction in falls of people participating in a Rock Steady Boxing program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Improved Non-Motor Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 70% improvement in social life<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 62% improvement in fatigue<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 61% improvement in fear of falling<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 60% improvement in depression<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 58% improvement in anxiety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4. Decreased Risk Of Hospitalization<\/strong> – Kannarkat, T., et al report in their study \u201cEffect of exercise and rehabilitation therapy on risk of hospitalization in Parkinson’s disease,\u201d that participants in Rock Steady Boxing increase exercise duration and intensity which reduces the odds of a hospital visit in the PD population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The above Information\u00a0encourages many to join an independent Parkinson\u2019s boxing program or a local Rock Steady Boxing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important to note that while my program, Bridges for Parkinson\u2019s<\/a>, addresses the symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s Disease with boxing, we also include Parkinson\u2019s specific mobility, strength, fine motor, vocal, and cardio drills in each routine, along with love and support to keep \u201cfighting back<\/strong>\u201d. To quote a Rock Steady Boxing mantra,\u201c I promise you\u2019ll feel better, but you\u2019ll have to work for it and I\u2019ll help you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parkinson\u2019s Disease is a journey and Bridges For Parkinson\u2019s – Rock Steady Boxing Music City and Franklin want to support you and your Parkinson\u2019s \u201cfighters\u201d on the journey. As a MedFit author and Parkinson\u2019s Fitness Professional, I am here to help. You can contact me at info@bridgesforparkinsons.com for assistance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, we fight back stronger!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fit Pros: Learn The Skills You Need To Safely and Effectively Meet the Needs of the Clients With Parkinson’s Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enroll in Colleen’s 12-hour online course, Parkinson’s Disease Fitness Specialist<\/a>. The course brings the research, medical and fitness fields together so that fitness professionals gain a comprehensive understanding of Parkinson\u2019s disease, and learn how to work with those who have it.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/PDFS_updated-1024x389.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nColleen Bridges has worked for nearly 17 years as an NSCA Certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor and fitness consultant and as an independent contractor for Nashville\u2019s first personal training center, STEPS Fitness. Her passion for understanding the body in sickness and in health, and how it moves, as fed her interest in and enhanced her talent for working with senior adults, especially those living with a neurological disorder such as Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Every 6 minutes someone is diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s Disease (PD).\u00a0Most do not expect their physician to prescribe boxing along with dopamine replacement medication. Yet, every day movement disorder physicians, neurologists, and therapists (PT and OT) are doing just that with positive results, and quantifiable findings supported by years of in-depth research.\u00a0\u00a0 Before we answer the question, \u201cwhy boxing?\u201d\u00a0Let’s review the epidemiology of Parkinson\u2019s Disease. Parkinson\u2019s Disease is a progressive neurological disease and\u00a0primarily affects dopamine producing neurons in the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra is a structure located in the midbrain, and plays an important role in how the brain controls movement.\u00a0Substantia nigra is latin for \u201cblack substance,\u201d reflecting the fact that parts of the substantia nigra appear darker than neighboring areas due to higher levels of neuromelanin in dopaminergic neurons. People living with Parkinson\u2019s Disease experience\u00a0motor and non-motor symptoms such as, loss of balance, poor gait, postural issues, visual tracking problems, rigidity, tremor, freezing, facial masking, inability to focus on a task or process information clearly, bradykinesia, hypophonia (volume of voice), depression, anxiety, apathy.\u00a0 Now, consider the skills a boxer possesses. They train regularly to hone the following skills, skills that align with Parkinson\u2019s symptoms. Therefore, it makes sense to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":33409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","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":[198,92],"class_list":["post-33407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-mfn","tag-fitness-professionals","tag-parkinsons"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33407","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\/361"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33407"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33407\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33412,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33407\/revisions\/33412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Neuroprotection<\/em> mechanisms and strategies employed to defend the central nervous system (CNS) against injury due to both acute (e.g. trauma or stroke) and chronic neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson\u2019s).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Neuroplasticity <\/em>is the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning, or experience, or following injury.<\/li>\n\n\n\n