Community Hospital Fitness Pointe® is stepping up its defense against Parkinson’s disease (PD) with an innovative therapy program called Rock Steady Boxing. Rock Steady Boxing gives people with Parkinson’s disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum. Fitness Pointe is currently the only Rock Steady Boxing affiliate location in Northwest Indiana.
Program coordinators Jan Duncker, DPT, supervisor of Outpatient Physical Therapy and Priscilla Mulesa, MS, geriatric clinical specialist said that Rock Steady complements the existing Parkinson’s Exercise program offered through Community Hospital’s Physical Therapy department located at Fitness Pointe in Munster.
“Thanks to the generous support for the past three years from Northwest Indiana Parkinson’s, Inc, even more people have been able to benefit from specialized exercise classes,” Duncker said. “We’re grateful that Elizabeth Woodbury and Don Nagdeman from NWI Parkinson’s have put their full support behind this program to help make it possible.”
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative movement disorder that can cause deterioration of motor skills, balance, speech and sensory function. The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation estimates there are more than 1 million people in the United States diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and more than 60,000 people are diagnosed each year.
“What we hope to accomplish with Rock Steady Boxing is to maximize the mental, emotional and physical potential of people with Parkinson’s disease,” explains Mulesa. “The exercises are fashioned after boxing drills and also include balance and agility training. The program uses an intense and rigorous plan of exercise and delivers it in a caring, supportive environment.”
Rock Steady Boxing was founded in Indianapolis by former pro-boxer and St. John resident Kristy Follmar and former Highland resident Christine Timberlake. The program has been supported by research from the University of Indianapolis Physical Therapy department.
Boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, footwork and overall strength to defend against and overcome opponents. In this new affiliate program at Fitness Pointe, Parkinson’s disease is the opponent. Exercises vary in purpose and form, but share one common trait: they are rigorous and intended to extend the perceived capabilities of the participant.
Program participants first go through a comprehensive assessment by physical therapy coordinators before being assigned to an intensive balance and agility program in one of four different levels. Level 1 consists of very high level, early diagnosed participants. Level 2 and 3 consist of moderately affected participants and Level 4 includes those needing assistive devices and help from their caregivers. All participate in boxing and balancing activities and the athletic and personal trainers assist as program “corner men” and instructors to help them realize maximum benefits.
Classes are scheduled at Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Avenue, Munster. Call the Physical Therapy department at Fitness Pointe, 219-934-2840, for more information.
Community Hospital Fitness Pointe helps individuals achieve life-long health and fitness through innovative, quality programs, state-of-the-art equipment and highly credentialed staff. For more information about the programs and services available visit www.comhs.org/community/fitness_pointe.asp.
