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Fight against Parkinson’s with Rock Steady Boxing
disease can destroy.
Multiple studies conducted through the 1980s and 1990s supported the idea that regular, rigorous exercise that emphasized gross motor movement, balance, core strength, and rhythm could strengthen range of motion, flexibility, posture, gait and daily living activities. All of which Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative movement disorder, which causes the decline of motor skills, balance, speech and sensory function. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation estimates, there are more than one million people in the United States that are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, with more than 60,000 people diagnosed each year.
In more recent studies executed by the Cleveland Clinic, the concept of intense, “forced” exercise have been the focus. The results suggest certain types of exercise may be neuro-protective, actually slowing Parkinson’s disease progression.
Rock Steady Boxing is the first boxing program of its kind in the country. Rock Steady Boxing was founded by Vince Perez and Scott Newman, who was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease in his early 40s. Rock Steady Boxing created curriculum to meet the fitness levels at all stages of Parkinson’s disease — from newly diagnosed to those who had been living with it for decades.
Boxers train to gain optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, footwork and overall strength to defend against Parkinson’s disease. Exercises vary in purpose and form but they are designed to be rigorous and extend the capabilities of the boxer. The workout classes are designed to be a full body workout, including doing circuits of different workouts. Although boxing is a main exercise of the class, it is not the only exercise.
Phil Miller, communications and outreach director, got involved with Rock Steady Boxing because his son, Todd, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“His pinky would twitch, then it moved his whole hand,”
Miller explained. Miller was desperate to find help for his son, which is how they found about the flagship Rock Steady Boxing gym in Indianapolis. There was nothing like this available in the South Bend area, so Miller did something about it. South Bend’s Rock Steady Boxing Gym, 50698 SR 933, was opened in 2016 and was the 129th location worldwide. Today, there are over 780 different locations worldwide. Don Sheliga, head coach, has been a part of Rock Steady Boxing for eight years. Sheliga used to drive to Indianapolis to participate in classes before a gym had opened in South Bend. “Rock Steady Boxing works. It’s an improvement program that gets good results. I have seen it done,” Sheliga explained. For more information on classes, contact Phil Miller at (574) 286-6731. To find a class, visit rocksteadyboxing.org/finda-class/#go_here.
