I signed up for a boxing class at Hartford Health. I didn't know anything about PD boxing but I had gone to a PAL boxing gym for years. Many of the patients at Hartford Health were in wheelchairs. It eventually hit me that these elderly or infirm people would not be fighting each other. Still, I had mental images of two guys in wheelchairs punching each other as a ref with a whistle watched for no illegal punches.
It was a one-hour class. Most of the people I knew from Tai Chi class. There were heavy punching bags but no speed bags. Basically the instructor demonstrated straight punches, hooks, crosses and uppercuts. Then turned us loose while watching.
I learned I still have a decent punch. But absolutely no footwork. I kept tripping over my own feet. I wonder if I have bradykinesia of both legs. It's something to ask my neuro.
This morning my arms, shoulders and back are sore. That bothers me because years ago that piddling amount of exercise would not have left me with soreness. So boxing is supposed to help PD. I believe meditation class could do more for most people. Something else to ask my neuro.
Written by
kaypeeoh
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Is it a “Rock Steady Boxing” (RSB) program? If it is, it should be non-contact boxing with heavy bags and speed bags. As well as stretching, balance exercises, jump rope, hula hoop, floor exercises like planks, pushups, jumping jacks, etc. We also do weights, bicycle, walk, etc. We even play volleyball with a soft beachball type ball ( we don’t follow all the rules though). We also do fine motor skills and we talk about any of our concerns/fears/meds. It’s an hour and a half workout (gives time to put your gloves on, etc.
Of all the things I’ve done since I was diagnosed 20 yrs ago it’s been the most helpful thing. I joined RSB in January 2007, 3 months after they opened in October 2006.
So, the moral of the story is “find an RSB and you will feel better!”
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