TRURO, N.S. — With AC/DC’s Thunderstruck booming in the background, Harold Boone raises his gloves, plants his feet, weaves and bobs a bit and takes a few jabs at the air.
Nearby, Judy Decker is also ducking and weaving as she taps softly at the heavy bag. Between those two, Douglas McDougall is somewhat awkwardly landing short, left and right jabs at a heavy bag from a sitting position, in his wheelchair.
“I need to work on my coordination,” McDougall says quietly.
Welcome to boxing, Parkinson’s style.
Boone, 62, and McDougall 69, have all been dealing with the effects of Parkinson's disease for about 10 years. Decker, 76, was diagnosed four years ago.
Boone recently learned of the benefits boxing movements and exercises provide to Parkinson's sufferers and he worked through the Atlantic chapter of Parkinson Canada in Halifax to coordinate temporary funding for boxing lessons, one hour per week, at Beyond Boxing in Truro with head coach Ted Ash.
Some weeks there may only be two participants; some weeks there may be four. But for one hour each Friday afternoon, Ash and a volunteer assistant tape up the hands of the Parkinson's participants, lace on the gloves and gently relay instructions to help provide exercise, motion and toning to restricted muscles.
“What it’s done for me so far is give me a purpose to pursue it,” Boone says. “It’s good because it gives you exercises in breathing and just general fitness.”
Despite limitations to his body the disease causes, Boone tries to remain as active as possible by continuing to bicycle, swim, walk, fish and even boat with his small outboard.
“As the disease progresses, it has a little more effect on you every year. But I’d have to say I’ve gone 10 years now with real good success. And a lot of it comes with good medical care and good doctors and me keeping active and seeking out ways to keep the disease at bay and live a good life,” he says.
“Sometimes it takes a little more planning to make something work.”
The Atlantic chapter of Parkinson Canada piloted a boxing exercise program in June in Halifax, said Lisa Frankland, the group’s Community Development coordinator.
“It was an immediate hit,” she said. “Benefits were also, quite immediate,” both from a physical and social health perspectives.
“They found themselves in the centre of an immediate support system as many were dealing with similar physical symptoms, to varying degrees.”
Frankland said research has shown exercise is as important as medication in treating PD Symptoms and the boxing participants began noticing a difference in their balance, in their ability to sleep the night after exercise and in their confidence levels.
“Everyone cheers everyone on towards a better well-being,” she said. “We know that exercise helps muscles and joints and improves overall well-being.”
Decker said her overall condition isn’t too bad just yet and she walks a lot “to keep things going." But when she heard of the potential boxing exercises could provide, she wanted to give it a try.
Noticing immediate benefits after her first attempt, Decker says she couldn’t wait to lace on the gloves again. “I just felt like getting at it,” she says, with a laugh. “Just gives me a little more stability and exercise. As you age you kind of lay off the things you used to do.”
The Atlantic chapter initially provided funding for a one-month pilot program but Boone said that now has been expanded until the end of the year. The workouts have been so beneficial, however, he intends to keep going as long as possible.
“Anything that will help me stay active and stay motivated and help me physically and mentally, I’ll do it the rest of my life if I need to,” he said. “It’s not only the physical thing, it’s mental as well. Whether it’s boxing or singing or dancing or whatever, I encourage everybody to get up and go.”
