SAN ANTONIO \u2014 There is a growing gym community in San Antonio where the workout is not entirely traditional. These gym rats are strapping on the boxing gloves and punching the bag for much more than just a good sweat. They are trying to \u201cPunch Out Parkinson\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the most fantastic class that I have ever discovered in my life,\u201d said Brenda Carter, whose husband is a Parkinson\u2019s patient. \u201cWhen they are exercising and they are big movements,\u201d said program founder and RN Dianne Johnson. \u201cIt releases more dopamine, and that\u2019s what they are lacking.\u201d<\/p>\n
We found the class at Box Beat Gym just off Loop 1604 and was absolutely blown away by what we saw.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel much better after doing this,\u201d said patient Mel, now in his early 80s. \u201cWe can do it three or four times per week with various places,\u201d he added. \u201cAfter they are done boxing they actually move better because they now have excess of the dopamine,\u201d said Dianne.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know what my expectation would be going to cover this story, but I was so touched by how serious, and how hard, patient in the class took their exercises.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything has a purpose,\u201d said Coach A.D. \u201cWhen you hear them screaming and yelling it is to help them with their vocal cords,\u201d he continued. \u201cWhen we do elongated muscles we have them kick out so they don\u2019t get the shuffle feet. We have them doing long punches.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dianne traveled to Scotland some years ago and there was a group of Australians at the medical conference she attended and that\u2019s where she first learned about boxing to push back Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing that slows down Parkinson\u2019s is exercise,\u201d said coach, and patient, Coach Mike. \u201cWe\u2019re all here to fight our Parkinson\u2019s and the best way to fight it is to fight it here (the gym) as hard as you can,\u201d he added. \u201cThey have their days where you have to stay on them like we all do,\u201d said A.D. \u201cBut we run a tight ship here and they get right back to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parkinson\u2019s disease affects everyone in different ways, but the workouts affect everyone the same, with the idea being to push against the disease to improve quality of life as much as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all have tough times, but you get in here with your friends and hit the bag and take out your frustrations,\u201d said Mike. \u201cJust know that you are pushing Parkinson\u2019s back just a few steps every time you walk into the gym,\u201d he added. \u201cMy husband was diagnosed in 2023 with the disease, but he is so much better mentally and physically because you don\u2019t have to be strong to do this,\u201d said Brenda. \u201cIf you don\u2019t do it you miss it and you can tell you missed it,\u201d said Mel.<\/p>\n
Attending the class and meeting the patients putting in the work reminded me of the line from the movie \u201cThe Shawshank Redemption\u201d when Andy\u2019s character says, \u201cGet busy living or get busy dying.\u201d And to me, in some way, that\u2019s the folks that we met putting in the hard work to keep up their quality of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good line, and it\u2019s true,\u201d said Mel. \u201cThey are busy living,\u201d said Dianne. \u201cHe feels better, I feel better and we feel better,\u201d said Brenda.<\/p>\n
Dianne encourages anyone with Parkinson\u2019s to consider taking her class, \u201cPunch Out Parkinson\u2019s.\u201d And the best part, according to her?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s free,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n