'It drives us': Cary boxing studio helping residents with Parkinson's disease stay active
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder with no cure. The owners of a Cary boxing studio, however, are helping their clients punch back against
Posted — UpdatedParkinson's disease is a neurological disorder with no cure. In addition to depression and other emotional changes, some of the physical symptoms of the disease include:
- Tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
- Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
- Slowness of movement
- Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
“Exercise, movement, [and] mobility; that's the number one thing they have to have,” Jacobs said. “You've got to get up. You've got to get up and go.”
- Exercises to strengthen muscles and improve balance, flexibility, and coordination.
- Yoga and tai chi to increase stretching and flexibility.
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapies, which may help with gait and voice disorders, tremors and rigidity, and decline in mental functions.
69-year-old Liz Gordon is one of the 29,000 people in North Carolina living with Parkinson’s disease. For her, the classes help her with her symptoms.
“I can do push-ups, she said. “It’s just made me a lot stronger.”
Greg Geheb's daughter, who lives in Indianapolis, told him about the fitness program.
“She said, ‘Dad, you should come and try this. It's getting rave results,’” Geheb said. “So I did.”
Geheb said the results for him and others in the class help drive him and others to continue attending.
“It drives us. It's like a medicine to us,” said Geheb.
77-year-old Lynn Nelson said she experiences tremors and shaking, but the classes help her manage the symptoms.
“I need to sweat, so I make a point of coming in five days a week. We're just trying to do the best we can,” Nelson said. “They are all fighting for the best quality of life possible with the support, spirit and feeling of being part of a community.”
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.