BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Battling a debilitating disease is taking on a whole new meaning thanks to the art of boxing.
A man with Parkinson’s attended one of boxing coach Albert Latulippe’s beginner classes and changed his life. Through that student, Latulippe learned about the clinically proven benefits of boxing therapy.
“It’s multitasking, which they have difficulty with, hand-eye coordination, mental focus, there’s so many different things with boxing that help people with Parkinson’s.”
Following the interaction, Latulippe got certified with Rock Steady, a worldwide organization bringing boxing to Parkinson’s patients focused on slowing and in some cases stopping the disease’s progression through research and hands-on practice. As evidence of the significant impact of the boxing courses, Latulippe, now head coach and affiliate owner of Rocksteady Boston, points to a 92-year-old student who came to him in a wheelchair.
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“Got her away from the wheelchair to the walker, got her away from the walker to nothing. Hitting a tire with the bat, doing battle ropes, everything on her own. Just for her to be doing that at 92 is insane, but for her to go from a wheelchair to walking, it’s like magic. The feeling is unbelievable.”
And while Latulippe says he loves the exercise aspect, the camaraderie fostered in the program might be the biggest benefit.
“Being around people that are going through the same struggles, fighting the same disease, it boosts them up. It gives them ultimate confidence and a sense of community.”
Founded in 2006, Rock Steady now offers boxing therapy for Parkinson’s patients in locations across New England and around the world.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kendall Buhl (@WBZKendall) reports.