Punching Parkinson’s: How Boxing Packs a Punch Against the Disease

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurological condition that affects millions worldwide, and about 1267 women for every 100 000.1,2 It can cause tremors, stiffness, and impaired balance, greatly impacting one's quality of life. While there's currently no cure for Parkinson's, innovative approaches to managing its symptoms continue to be explored. One such approach involves stepping into the boxing ring.

Challenges

Exercise is flat-out one of the best things you can do for yourself to help prevent disease, to help treat conditions and their symptoms, and to help with recovery. However, there can be many challenges people with Parkinson’s may face when it comes to exercise, especially with increased levels of disability. Some include a decline in physical activity with impaired motor control.3,4 Other barriers include feeling chronically tired, lack of support, fear of falling, not having access to either transport or fitness facilities/programs, feeling apathy and not motivated, and not believing in or not knowing the benefits of exercise for their condition.5-8

Boxing Parkinson's as a Therapy

The aim of treatment for Parkinson’s is to relieve symptoms, delay the progress, and to maintain or even try to improve quality of life for as long as possible. 

Traditional treatments for Parkinson's often focus on medication and physical therapy. However, in recent years, non-traditional therapies like boxing have gained attention for their potential to alleviate symptoms and improve overall well-being.

How does boxing help? It might seem counterintuitive to recommend a high-intensity sport like boxing for individuals with a neurodegenerative disorder, but the key lies in the specific exercises involved. Boxing workouts typically include elements such as punching bags, speed drills, footwork exercises, and coordination drills. These activities target various motor skills, balance, flexibility, and overall cardiovascular health – all areas commonly affected by Parkinson's.

The Benefits

There are a handful of benefits that boxing can offer for those with Parkinson’s, such as: 

1. Improved Motor Skills: Parkinson's can cause a decline in motor function, making simple tasks challenging. Boxing training focuses on hand-eye coordination, agility, and fine motor skills, helping individuals regain control over their movements.9

2. Increased Strength & Endurance: Continuously working the muscles to punch and kick both the air and bags helps build up strength and gets the heart pumping.10

3. Enhanced Balance and Stability: Balance issues are common among Parkinson's patients, increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Boxing workouts, with their emphasis on footwork and core strength, can help improve balance and stability, reducing the likelihood of accidents.10-18

4. Improved Walking Capacity: All that shuffling and footwork in boxing has been shown to help improve gait and the capacity to walk in those with Parkinson’s.11,19,20

5. Improved Mobility: While one of the symptoms of Parkinson’s is stiffness, boxing has been shown to help loosen things up and to help remain limber.11,13,19
   

6. Increased Confidence and Mental Well-being: Dealing with Parkinson's can take a toll on one's mental health and self-esteem. Engaging in boxing not only provides physical benefits but also boosts confidence, self-discipline, and a sense of empowerment, vital aspects in managing the psychological aspects of the disease. Many studies have found a reduction in depression and anxiety, reduced fatigue, and even better sleep!9,14,18,21

7. Sense of Community: Parkinson's can be isolating, but boxing classes offer a supportive community environment where individuals can connect with others facing similar challenges. This sense of camaraderie can provide emotional support and motivation to stick with the program.5,13-16,21,22

8. Improved Quality of Life: Combining all of the traits above, it can be said that people’s overall quality of life was improved.5,11,12,14-16,22

Alternative Therapies

Boxing is one activity that has garnered a lot of attention in the realm of treating Parkinson’s. Rock Steady Boxing is an organisation that is implementing boxing to help those with the disease and has many qualified practitioners across the globe. Boxing also isn’t the only activity that’s gaining traction: table tennis, dance, yoga, tai chi, and general aerobic and resistance training have all been explored and have been shown to provide similar benefits as boxing.23-30

Conclusion

While boxing may not be the conventional solution for managing Parkinson's disease, its unique combination of physical and mental benefits has shown promise in improving symptoms and enhancing overall well-being. As research in this area continues to grow, incorporating boxing into Parkinson's treatment plans could offer individuals a new avenue for fighting back against the challenges posed by this progressive condition. So, lace up your gloves – because in the battle against Parkinson's, every punch counts.

Final Remarks

Remember, before starting any new exercise regimen, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional, especially for individuals with underlying health conditions like Parkinson's disease. As a registered kinesiologist, we can definitely help with that. Not to mention, we have plenty of martial arts experience if you're looking to add a bit of punching and kicking into your routine!

We also recommend checking out the ressources and articles provided by Parkinson Canada.

Our goal at Delta Kinesiology is to help women reach their health and fitness goals. We tailor each session using evidence-based principles and methods to help you reach your goals. Whether that be going about your day pain-free, building muscle, improving stamina, or feeling better about yourself, we are here to help.

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References

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2. Pringsheim, T., Jette, N., Frolkis, A., & Steeves, T. D. (2014). The prevalence of Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society, 29(13), 1583–1590. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.25945

3. van Nimwegen, M., Speelman, A. D., Hofman-van Rossum, E. J., Overeem, S., Deeg, D. J., Borm, G. F., van der Horst, M. H., Bloem, B. R., & Munneke, M. (2011). Physical inactivity in Parkinson's disease. Journal of neurology, 258(12), 2214–2221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6097-7

4. Amara, A. W., Chahine, L., Seedorff, N., Caspell-Garcia, C. J., Coffey, C., Simuni, T., & Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (2019). Self-reported physical activity levels and clinical progression in early Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 61, 118–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.11.006

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