Fighting Parkinson’s with non-contact boxing
Tallahassee’s LEAP Training is joining Rock Steady Boxing in the fight against Parkinson’s, a “chronic and degenerative disease that leads to slowness, balance disorders, tremors and difficulty in walking resulting from the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain.”
Rock Steady Boxing, a non-contact boxing program, began in a makeshift boxing ring at a gymin Indianapolis and was the brainchild of former Marion County Prosecutor Scott C. Newman. After he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s, Newman began intensive one-on-one boxing training, and in a short time he witnessed a dramatic improvement in physical health, agility, and daily function, which combined, improved the overall quality of his life. With the help of fitness trainer Kristy Rose Follmer, a former world champion professional boxer, Rock Steady Boxing was born and developed into a solid program designed to help others fight against Parkinson’s.
Boxing provides the vigorous aerobic activity (a 5-6 on the rate of perceived exertion scale) needed by the body to fuel the creation of new brain cells — a process known as neurogenesis. Studies have also suggested that vigorous exercise increases the efficiency with which the brain uses dopamine, which is critical to the stimulation of motor system nerves in the body. In addition to “exercise boosted brain cells,” vigorous aerobic exercise may contribute to neuroplasticity within the brain. Neuroplasticity is defined as the brain’s ability to maintain old connections, form new ones and restore lost ones.
Boxing combines dynamic movement of arms and legs, which improves coordination, balance, and gait. Add the development of eye-hand coordination and the requirement that a boxer work on maintaining core stability and it is not hard to imagine the benefits of boxing to someone with a neurodegenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s. In fact, research conducted by Giselle M. Petzinger, M.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Division, at the University of Southern California, shows that intense, specific, and complex exercise improves walking and other motor skills in people with Parkinson’s.
Rock Steady Boxing provides a structured program designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s. It is for men and women, young and old. The lovely thing about RSB is that the best outcomes are achieved when boxing is done in a group setting. Mood is boosted, anxiety level is reduced, and camaraderie, peer support, hope and confidence are elevated.
Participants’ outlook on life improves as they realize that they are not alone, and others are facing the same obstacles. Improving one’s outlook is half the battle when faced with a daunting challenge. As stated by Kris Cameron of ReNu your Life Personal Training and Wellness: “I don’t see it as false hope, I see hope. I see helping people to find a bright spot in their day and celebrate improvements regardless of how small. I see caregivers who come to class and help their loved ones with the exercises and even do the exercises themselves. I see people who had never met, getting to know each other and sharing their experiences. If something as simple as exercise can give hope and help you walk through life a bit better, why wouldn’t you do it?”
As the owner of Tallahassee’s of LEAP Training, I am an ACE certified medical exercise specialist. I have 15 years experience in the field of health and fitness with the focus on using exercise as medicine. Nearly 10 of those years have been spent training individuals and groups with special concerns.
After learning of the RSB program on CBS’s Sunday Morning show, I became determined to bring the program to Tallahassee to enable me to more effectively help current and former clients with Parkinson’s. Intuitively, I knew from my two years of experience with boxing that I could apply the RSB technique safely and successfully.
I will be teaming up with Tallahassee fitness trainer Charles Richardson, who boxed professionally for three years. Charles trained with Roy Jones, Sr., and former world kickboxing champion Gerry Blanc and won two amateur kickboxing titles. The two are Rock Steady Boxing Certified and an affiliate of the not-for-profit organization.
We are combining our efforts to bring RSB’s group classes to the Tallahassee area starting in March. Small group classes (2-8 participants) will be held on Thursdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. starting March 17. Additional classes will be added in April.
Diane Arnold is Certified Medical Exercise Specialist and Health Coach at LEAP Living LLC. Contact her at diane@leapliving.com.
Rock Steady Boxing classes
Small group classes (2-8 participants) will be held on Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., and Fridays from 1:30 to 3 p.m. starting March 17. Additional classes will be added in April.
Classes will be held at LEAP Living Studio, 3330 Shadowmoss Drive. The fee is $100 per month for two to three classes per week. Participants need to contact Diane Arnold a week before in order to complete an assessment.
Contact Diane Arnold at 850-566-9155, Charles Richardson at 850-459-7970 or tallahasseeleap@rsbaffiliate.com.