FIGHTING BACK AGAINST PARKINSON'S
What is Rock Steady Boxing?
"In this corner, HOPE."
ROCK STEADY,
ROUGH & READY!
Rock Steady Boxing is a one-of-a-kind, nonprofit gym founded in 2006 with the mission to empower people with Parkinson's disease to fight back.
Rock Steady provides a uniquely effective form of physical exercise to people who are living with PD. Though millions of dollars have been invested in research to find a cause and cure for PD, people with PD need help today to maintain their quality of life, independence, and dignity while they wait for a cure.
Though it may seem surprising, Rock Steady Boxing's non-contact, boxing-inspired fitness routine is proving to dramatically improve the ability of people with Parkinson's to live independent lives. Boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, footwork and overall strength to defend against and overcome opponents.
At Rock Steady, Parkinson’s disease is the opponent.
RESEARCH EVIDENCE
FOR BOXING
HOPE IN OUR CORNER,
PARKINSON'S ON THE ROPES!
ESPN ranks boxing as the most difficult sport


STEADY & BOLD,
KNOCK
PARKINSON'S
OUT COLD!
Symptoms
Motor Symptoms
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Gait alterations - slowness/quickness of movements
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Bradykinesia - slowness of movement
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Rigidity - stiffness of limbs and trunk
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Postural Instability - impaired balance, coordination, higher fall %
Non-motor Symptoms
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Mood disorder - depression, anxiety, & apathy are common
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Sleep disorders - daytime sleepiness, fatigue
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Cognition - decrease in visual-spatial, organization, planning
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Sensory - numbness, tingling sensations
HOO-RAH!
ROCK STEADY!
Boxing
Benefits for Motor Symptoms
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Gait alterations/Bradykinesia - Forced exercises, such as boxing have been demonstrated to have an immediate increase in walking speed, dexterity, and motor function
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Rigidity / Postural Instability - Boxing is a great activity for developing a strong core, balance and agility. Boxers train to increase their levels of balance, coordination, speed, muscle power, and agility, all of which are useful for PD patients as well.
Benefits for Non-motor Symptoms
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Mood/Sleep disorder - Boxing and intense exercise have been shown to improve mental health and increase serotonin levels. Though there is no increase in dopamine levels in PD patients, those who regularly exercise are able to utilize their existing dopamine more efficiently, complementing their medication.
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Cognition - forced exercise, such as boxing has been demonstrated to have a neuroprotective effect, increasing the amount of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factors) that make neurons more resistant to deterioration. It can also increase the levels of neuroplasticity to outweigh the effects of neurodegradation, resulting in a lessening of symptoms.