Boxing is considered a cure for Parkinson’s disease

(NBC, KYMA/KECY) – Parkinson’s disease affects nearly 1 million people in the United States.

Patients are usually given medication or surgery, but some doctors add another prescription: boxing.

Loane Tanning, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year ago, found new hope in an unexpected cure.

“Maybe my favorite part of this class is actually hitting the bag. It’s very iconic. This is how you have to fight Parkinson’s. I have.” “

Rocksteady Boxing, a non-profit organization, has developed a contactless boxing curriculum for Parkinson’s patients around the world.

“And sometimes, when I say left, throw a left uppercut, and when I say right through a right uppercut, say left, left, right, try and change it up It’s challenging them,” continued Tanning.

another Parkinson’s patient

Every week, Greg Demetriou, a fellow Parkinsonian, joins Lorne.

“I feel pretty much leveled off. I’m not declining. There’s nothing worth talking about…the disease is trying to do the same thing it’s trying to do.” But I can work against it… Agility, balance, speed, power, all of these things that you have to put into a variety of exercises are useful in the major leagues.”

he is not alone. Small studies have found that boxing can help reduce falls and improve walking speed and endurance in people with Parkinson’s disease.

It can also boost your mood.

In fact, most of the Rocksteady boxers surveyed said the Rocksteady curriculum improved their social life, fatigue, depression and anxiety.

“What I see most often is improvements in non-motor symptoms. For example, people feel encouraged. They have a better social life because they have someone they can connect with. I feel they don’t feel insecure. [and] It made me less depressed…they essentially made friends [that] People who have Parkinson’s disease understand Parkinson’s disease and understand what they’re going through,” said Daniel Larson, M.D., an assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University.

make an impact

Overall, these classes are making an impact.

“Certainly found [something] Beyond community consciousness. I found friendship, I found compassion, [and] I found it very good to know that you weren’t the only one,” Tanning concluded.

To date, Rocksteady Boxing has found its way to over 40,000 boxers in 14 countries battling Parkinson’s disease.

For these patients, every day is a new fighting chance.

When asked about the day he will be out of boxing, Demetriou said:

“Yes, it scares me badly, and I’m going to fight it as best I can.”