Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the United States with close to 90,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. It is one of those diseases that is often referred to as a “snowflake disease,” meaning that no two cases of Parkinson’s disease are the same. There is much research taking place regarding this disease and there have been strides made. So far, though, a cure is still not available.
What is available, however, are tools and techniques to help manage and stabilize the disease. One of these is Rock Steady Boxing. Rock Steady Boxing was founded in 2006 in Indianapolis, Indiana. A young district attorney, Scott Newman, developed Parkinson’s at the age of 40. He could no longer continue to work and he was struggling. A friend took him to a gym for a boxing workout and Scott found that these workouts helped him. He began to work with medical professionals and boxing experts and, together, they created Rock Steady Boxing.
Using the tools and techniques of boxing training, Rock Steady helps individuals with Parkinson’s to fight back. Research done by leading academic medical centers has shown the benefits, citing the impact of repetitive motion to help build concentration and strength and improve balance. Rock Steady also incorporates a focus on voice, often an issue with these patients, and cognition, using techniques such as loud counting punches and changing activities using 1 minute or 30 second intervals.
Rock Steady participants are in small classes that meet twice a week at specified times. As they box together, these individuals also develop and build a sense of community. They connect with one another, they share information, and they become each other’s friends and supporters.
The Jewish Home Family got involved in Parkinson’s programming in 2016 when a family member asked us why our staff were treating their loved one as if he had dementia when what he really had was Parkinson’s disease. It was a lightbulb moment, as we realized that the individual was not unable to respond but that we were not giving him the time that he needed to do so. We began to learn, and educate, on “what is and what isn’t” Parkinson’s and to add programs to assist our Parkinson’s patients, including Tai Chi and dance and Pilates.
We learned about Rock Steady Boxing and immediately booked members our team to go to Indianapolis for training. We opened a Rock Steady gym at Jewish Home Assisted Living on our River Vale campus in 2017 and have been running classes ever since. Even COVID didn’t stop us as we instantly switched to a Zoom format, making sure our participants had the opportunity to continue their training—and their connection.
Our services for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease extend beyond Rock Steady to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, aquatics, and a monthly support group. If you, or someone you know, has Parkinson’s disease, we can help them to fight back. Reach out to parkinsons@jewishhomefamily.org or call our Parkinson’s hotline at 1-855-JHF-PARK (1-855-543-7275) for more information and with any questions.
