Parkinson’s disease is a disease that can be treated with various therapies, including physical and pharmaceutical. People with Parkinson’s disease may be familiar with exercise programs that help them integrate regular movement into their routines. For example, Rock Steady Boxing is one of the most popular fitness programs for Parkinson’s disease. If you are interested in learning about new ways to integrate fitness into your treatment plan, you may be interested in trying this program.

Rock Steady Boxing is a non-profit organization that provides fitness programs and instruction. The goal of the organization is to help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their quality of life. At Living Well Balanced, we offer the Rock Steady Boxing program as one of our treatments for Parkinson’s disease. The program uses non-contact boxing to build fitness and fight back against the deterioration of motor skills, balance, and sensory function.

How Did Rock Steady Boxing Start?

Rock Steady Boxing was founded in 2006 by Scott C. Newman, an Indiana lawyer diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s. He, along with close friend and Golden Gloves boxer Vince Perez designed a boxing program that targeted the neurological points made vulnerable by Parkinson’s.

Once they’re program was researched and backed by medical research that supported the program’s ability to assist patients with Parkinson’s, they founded the first boxing program of its kind in the US. Since the organization’s inception, they have expanded its class offering to meet the fitness levels of every stage of Parkinson’s. Now, the program has also spread all over the country, with over 840 affiliate programs in the US and internationally.

How Can Rock Steady Boxing Help?

Medical research has determined that exercise can be an essential tool in the fight against deteriorating functionality in people with Parkinson’s Disease. So, Rock Steady Boxing engineered an exercise program that aligns with the challenges and needs of a Parkinson’s patient. Exercise can provide the following benefits to anyone regardless of fitness level or health:

• Heart health
• Endurance
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Bone Density
• Mental Agility

These benefits are especially essential to people with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a Neurodegenerative brain disorder. That means it impacts the patient’s movement by causing unconscious movement like resting tremors. It can also restrict movement by causing rigidity, slowness, or offset balance. Sometimes, exercise can help with these symptoms. The Parkinson’s Outcomes Project recommends 2.5 hours of exercise per week to improve the motor functions that Parkinson’s targets. Patient’s can improve their neuroplasticity and neurological functioning by learning new exercises.

Rock Steady Boxing therapy meets a Parkinson’s patient’s unique needs. It includes various non-contact boxing-based workouts. Therefore, it helps patients meet the recommended weekly exercise amount. Additionally, the program teaches them new skills and exercises, helping them build their neuroplasticity. The program can also have the added benefit of providing socialization with other patients. The boxing program itself focuses on building the following:

• Range of motion
• Strength
• Resilience to injuries
• Independence
• Confidence

Why Should You Try Rock Steady Boxing?

Rock Steady Boxing is set apart from other Parkinson’s treatments for various reasons. Rock Steady Boxing is:

• Patient-Specific: Rock Steady Boxing is a specific program designed for Parkinson’s patients, meaning it can focus on their needs more than a regular exercise or boxing program can.
• Tested by thousands of people with PD: This boxing program has been a successful treatment since 2006, so many patients have benefitted and are currently benefitting from the program.
• A great way to meet with other people with PD: Rock Steady creates a fun and engaging atmosphere, so it is a great place to meet other people with similar experiences and build community.
• Led by trained instructors: Rock Steady Boxing trainers must have medical or fitness certifications to provide the best instruction to patients. They also receive training in Rock Steady Boxing programs.
• Constantly improving: As Rock Steady Boxing grows, the organization creates new and improved programs to ensure they are the most beneficial and accessible.
• Available at every level: Whether a patient has early onset Parkinson’s disease or has lived with the condition for years, there is a Rock Steady Boxing program for them. These programs keep the patient’s range of motion and strength in mind and help them build on it.
• Beneficial to anyone: Rock Steady Boxing designed its program for people with Parkinson’s disease, but program can treat anyone with a movement disorder or injury they are rehabbing that causes similar symptoms.

How Can You Start at Living Well Balanced?

Living Well Balanced offers Rock Steady Boxing classes for various levels. Our trainers are knowledgeable about the program, and many have additional personal training or medical experience, so they can help with any questions you may have about the program.

You can make an appointment on our website to join us for one of our Rock Steady Programs. Once you have an appointment, you can join our existing program members for regular boxing classes. In the class, you can expect a warm-up and one-to-one boxing practice with trainers or other boxers. Some classes include circuit training and drills that work fine motor skills and cognitive exercise. The best way to see improvement is by attending these classes regularly.

At Living Well Balanced, we offer holistic healthcare from caring and experienced professionals. We provide physical therapy as well as boxing therapy to assist our clients in every aspect of their health and Parkinson’s management. You can make an appointment with one of our massage therapists to learn how they can benefit your treatment plan for injury recovery or prevention and chronic pain. Check out our blog for more information about alternative therapies. If you have any questions, you can always give us a call at 212-579-2858 or send an email to info@livingwb.com.