ROCK STEADY
“What do we say?”
“Never give up! 1..2..3…Rock Steady!”
This is the chant of people fighting back against Parkinson’s Disease. This is the mantra of Rock Steady Boxing. Founded in 2006 by Scott C. Newman, Rock Steady Boxing is a nonprofit organization following a mission of helping those with Parkinson’s fulfill a better quality of life through exercise curriculum involving non-contact boxing. Founder Scott C. Newman, a former Indianapolis District Attorney, was diagnosed at the age of 40 with the disease and like others diagnosed before him, he was not given an optimistic prognosis. Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative disease that affects motor skills, balance, speech, and sensory function. Every year, 60,000 people are diagnosed. There is no cure. There is medication available to help increase dopamine levels, however these medications do not have a long lasting release where the medication stays active for longer periods of time. Most patients who are diagnosed are not given any literature on the disease or any outlets to help them slow down the progression of their symptoms, however with Rock Steady Boxing there is hope. According to the University of Indianapolis, research has shown that compared to other exercise modalities, even in the most severe cases, those with Parkinson’s that are involved in boxing programs were found to have higher quality of function overtime. I have seen the results of this research first hand.
According to the University of Indianapolis, research has shown that compared to other exercise modalities, even in the most severe cases, those with Parkinson’s that are involved in boxing programs were found to have higher quality of function overtime. I have seen the results of this research first hand.
Earlier in the year, I was given the opportunity to become a Rock Steady Boxing coach. I have recently been promoted as an exercise physiologist in my rehabilitation department and part of my job responsibilities are helping to run the wellness programs for the department. Before I received my promotion, I had worked as an aide with many therapists whose patients were fighters of Parkinson’s.