Perspective | Adapted Boxing Provides Innovative Treatment for PD

When asked how her family responded when she told them she was boxing for her Parkinson disease, 80-plus-year-old Maxine replied with a sly smirk of confidence, "They used to laugh, but they don't laugh anymore."

Maxine has been fighting back against her PD with a boxing-based, noncontact exercise curriculum developed at Rock Steady Boxing in Indianapolis. Her PD symptoms and, more important, her quality of life have improved significantly since starting her boxing training.

Rock Steady Boxing is a non-for-profit with the mission of training others around the world in its methods so they can establish affiliate locations in their neighborhood. Each location is free to adapt any business model that fits their community. There are Rock Steady Boxing affiliates in medical facilities, independent gyms, within YMCAs and JCCs, and as independent non-for-profit organizations.

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