Boxing exercise program to fight Parkinson's comes to Augusta

By Tom Corwin

Staff Writer

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015

Still smarting from a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in August, Jim Bodden of Evans hopes to soon fight back – actually punch back – against his disease.

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TODD BENNETT/STAFF

Certified trainer Tambra Craven is bringing the Rock Steady Boxing program to the Augusta area. The boxing-like exercises can help patients with Parkinson's disease. 

Most people would associate Parkinson’s and boxing with one of its most famous patients, boxing great Muhammad Ali. But the Rock Steady Boxing program, which began in Indianapolis and has spread across the country, finds boxing-based exercises can provide a number of benefits to patients, said Tambra Cra­ven, a certified trainer who began Day One Fitness and became certified in Rock Steady Boxing to start an affiliated program in Augusta.

Boxing exercises are one of the highest-rated ways of keeping fit and can help push people beyond what other exercise regimens demand, she said.

“If you got on a treadmill and worked at your own pace you wouldn’t see the same benefits,” Craven said. But there are also aspects to it that specifically address issues Parkinson’s patients have, she said.

“It’s a full-body workout. There are a lot of core and stability exercises in boxing,” Craven said. “Of course that helps people who have issues with stability, gait problems, things like that.”

The program also incorporates other aspects, such as getting the participant to yell while punching or yell back during drills because Parkinson’s patients can lose their voices over time. Bod­den said he is already dealing with that and is in speech therapy.

“That is one of the important areas that you lose,” he said, his voice already straining. “You have to work hard to keep it.”

The classes will also help patients deal with some of the realities of their disease, such as falling, Craven said.

“We practice falling,” she said. “We’re going to fall. It’s going to happen. Get comfortable with how you fall, how to safely fall and not injure yourself or minimize injury, and then get back up and not be embarrassed about it.”

There is one key reason the Rock Steady Boxing program is succeeding and spreading: People like it, Craven said.

“It’s fun,” she said. “So when you are talking about people who may not feel the best, they want to come do something that is fun. It is more fun than physical therapy. It’s also way cooler to say.”

Classes will start Nov. 2, with a location to be determined. Though the program normally splits participants into four levels based on ability, the first ones are likely to be mixed with modifications for those who need them. 

The hope – and the reason the group is called Day One Fitness – is that from the first day of diagnosis patients will hear about the program and what it might offer, Craven said.

“There’s a gym around the corner that can help bring hope into your lives, that will help slow down the progression of this disease,” she said.

http://health.einnews.com/article/290333562/VvScdcAI3OYwYZTk