My most recent fistfight was in seventh grade – 1972, Wydown Junior High in St. Louis. A bigger kid was pushing me around, and I started throwing wild punches in the general direction of his head.
The element of surprise allowed me to connect a couple of times. Then he hit me in the stomach, I fell down and curled up, and the fight was over.
The next punch I attempted to throw came 51 years later, after my diagnosis. My neurologist had told me that the only thing proven to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s was exercise. So an exercise search began.
I stumbled on a New York Times article about Rock Steady Boxing, a no-contact boxing program with a great reputation in the Parkinson’s community. A Google search for a Rock Steady outlet in Portland, Oregon took me to Kimberly Berg’s Rebel Fit Club.
My first Rebel Fit Club class was on a Monday in June 2023. To say I was rusty at punching would be an understatement – it wasn’t pretty. But I came back Wednesday, and again the following Monday. It took a couple of weeks before I could throw a credible left jab.
“Boxing” is a bit of a misnomer. The program is actually a circuit of balance, strength, cognitive, and boxing drills, with enough variety to keep things interesting. Hula hoops, jump ropes, and bosu balls are often involved — I now have one of each, along with a speed bag, at home.
I’ve since upped my commitment to three days a week, and don’t skip a class unless I absolutely have to. When I travel, I look for a Rock Steady Boxing class on the road.
Other things I’m doing to fight back:
Tai Chi — Some recent clinical studies have established that tai chi appears to be effective in slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms. So a few months ago, I signed up for a tai chi class.
Frankly, I’m not sure what to think. The class is intermittently fun, but also frustrating — when my hands perform correctly, my footwork is often off, or vice versa. I have rarely been described as “graceful.”
A couple of medical professionals have told me that tai chi’s constant weight shifting is very good for balance — a major source of trouble for Parkinson’s patients. And the challenges I experience of getting my hands and feet to work together have strong cognitive benefits.
So I soldier on.
Here’s a look at me performing tai chi:
Ping Pong: From CBS News:
“Ping-pong has clearly been shown to have a positive impact on the progression of the disease and in a way that the medication alone is not doing,” said Dr. Elana Clar, a neurologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
“While all forms of exercise are beneficial, the thing that makes ping-pong unique is that it incorporates a focus on balance, hand-eye coordination, and the rhythm or pace of reciprocal play,” Clar said. “So it really hits the trifecta of physical, cognitive and social activities.”
That’s good enough for me. Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon offers ping pong sessions in my hometown of Portland. We also have several private table tennis centers in the area. My recent retirement gives me more time to try things, so this is a new addition to my schedule.
Guitar: According to Practical Neurology, a recent study showed strong benefits for Parkinson’s patients who took a series of guitar lessons. Last week I downloaded an instructional app onto my iPad, and took my old guitar out of the basement, where it has sat unplayed for nearly 20 years. On Day 1, I could remember a C chord and an E minor.
51 years after I threw my last punch in anger, I’m fighting a new bully — Parkinson’s disease. Here’s hoping for a better outcome this time.
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