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January 8 — Charlene Washa bobs alternately left and right, alternating left and right crosses into a punching bag.
Her blood is pumped and endorphins are released in abundance with each punch.
The 65-year-old from Le Center does not train for prize fights. She is trying to fight Parkinson’s disease.
Washa, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, said, “Boxing was a new form of exercise that I didn’t know much about. Now I love it.”
Washa is one of about 10 patients enrolled in the Rock Steady Boxing Program at River’s Edge Hospital and Clinic. Originally developed by the Indianapolis nonprofit Rock Steady, this contactless program is specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease.
According to Tracie Lafata, an occupational therapist at River’s Edge, the clinic’s physical and occupational therapy teams came across the program when they were looking for more ways to serve people with Parkinson’s disease. rice field. They trained him to become a Rock Steady coach in 2021 before offering the program to patients on February 1, 2022.
Washa jumped into the ring from the start, but eventually other boxing rookies joined her.
Hugh Bergard’s daughter informed him about the program. Already an active runner, he saw running as another way to stay active, unlike running, which is fast-paced and requires hand-eye coordination.
While he was boxing, he felt like it was making a difference. But when his doctor brought it up, it really hit home.
“She was someone who really noticed,” he said. “I rarely tremble anymore.”
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that causes symptoms ranging from tremors to slowed movements and balance problems. Although it is a progressive disease, studies have shown that exercise can help slow its progression.
The Parkinson’s Disease Outcomes Project, a clinical study initiated by the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation in 2009, found that 2.5 hours of physical activity per week could slow declines in patients’ quality of life. In addition to contactless boxing, other exercises recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease include cycling, dancing, and Tai Chi.
“Exercise intensity is very important,” says Deb Mattson, chief physical therapist at River’s Edge.
One of the benefits of boxing is that it becomes a full-body workout. Patients work on their agility, balance, strength and endurance during the session, he says Mattson.
River’s Edge coaches in the program are physical therapists, occupational therapists, or exercise physiologists. Like the patient, they had no boxing background, but they didn’t need to know the difference between a jab and a hook.
Kaitlin Koester, physiotherapist at River’s Edge, said one of her favorite things to do was learn new activities and see how they could be applied to physical therapy.
Koster and her fellow coaches Mattson, LaFata, Nicole Boulter and Shannon Sticha begin each session with a physical and mental warm-up. On Thursday, as part of the warm-up, Washa, Belgard, and classmates Rob Gardner and Denny Wanos began doing leg lifts while thinking and vocalizing the words they found in the park. rice field.
Once warmed up, they went through a boxing and strength training circuit. Gardner performed a rapid-fire jab, Wanos played a concentration game, Belgard took a speed bag, and Washa planted a hook on a training dummy named “Bob.”
“At first, when I caught Bob, it was kind of weird to hit him because it felt like I was hitting people,” Washa said with a laugh. “But I got over it.”
Boxers are pretty tired by the time they relax.
“I love to sweat,” said Wanos. “It makes me feel like I’m doing something.”
Like physical activity, camaraderie is also a big part of the program. Groups share new research they come across, receive encouragement from coaches, and encourage each other.
Otherwise, Parkinson’s disease can be a lonely disease, said Wasa. am.
“Some people with Parkinson’s disease are starting to isolate themselves,” she said. The camaraderie here is fun.”
They joke together and have friendly competitions, such as who can sit down or stand up in a certain amount of time.
My teammates never imagined themselves boxing, but they are grateful that they started wearing gloves. hoping.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know it’s happening,” Belgard said. “And it’s really helpful.”
Follow Brian Arola @BrianArola
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