About Parkinson’s Disease 

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a condition that affects muscle movement and your overall quality of life. The muscle movement problems associated with Parkinson’s happen because of distorted brain messages between your brain and muscles. As you age, or as your Parkinson’s progresses, you may notice symptoms of your Parkinson’s increasing. 

Treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s in the early stage, or before they progress, will help arrest the progression of symptoms. Your quality of life will improve, and you can enjoy daily activities with little to no discomfort! 

A rock solid therapy program for Parkinson’s is Rock Steady Boxing in Commack. Exercise is vital for a healthy lifestyle, and even more important for you if you live with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, moving your body and muscles can be difficult or extremely painful. Dr. Susan Thomas from Balanced Gait PT provides you with a Parkinson’s-focused Rock Steady Boxing program.

What is Rock Steady Boxing? 

Medical studies and journals from the 1980s and 1990s reported that repeated and intense activity and movement could improve range of motion, balance, and gait for people with Parkinson’s. A physical therapy program that includes gross motor movement, balance, core strength, and rhythm would greatly enhance the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. 

Around 20 years ago, the Rock Steady Boxing method was formulated, with excellent outcomes and high rates of success for improving symptoms of Parkinson’s! What started in a small gym in Indianapolis has grown to over 900 affiliate locations improving the quality of life for over 50,000 people with Parkinson’s! 

Rock Steady Boxing is a physical therapy program designed exclusively for people with Parkinson’s. In Rock Steady Boxing, patients engage in a no-contact form of boxing that focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s.

The goal of Rock Steady Boxing is to improve motor development, focus on balance, and enhance core strength. Rock Steady Boxing offers specific and physiotherapist guided movement to improve your range of motion, flexibility, posture, gait, and daily tasks. 

Some of the benefits of Rock Steady Boxing include:

• improved balance
• muscle strength
• increased mobility and range of movements
• better flexibility
• improved endurance
• ability to perform movements such as walking

How does Rock Steady Boxing work? 

Rock Steady Boxing at Balanced Gait is a program created for managing Parkinson’s. The program takes movements from boxing, and couples it with medical treatment to create a holistic Parkinson’s treatment plan. 

Rock Steady Boxing focuses on alleviating Parkinson’s symptoms such as:

• balance problems
• muscle and joint stiffness
• muscle tremors
• coordination difficulties
• soft voice syndrome

In Rock Steady Boxing, you will engage in non-contact boxing techniques. You will involve your body in movements such as punching a heavy bag, boxing footwork, stretching muscles, resistance exercises, and aerobic training. 

A typical Rock Steady Boxing program would consist of a boxing-type workout that includes:

• Warm-Up
• Workout
• Core
• Cool-Down