Locals with Parkinson鈥檚 disease will soon have the opportunity to punch back against the disease.
Rock Steady Boxing is coming to Abbotsford in April, with classes occurring at the Matsqui Recreation Centre on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m.
Program organizers state that Rock Steady Boxing helps to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson鈥檚 through a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum.
It is an accredited international Parkinson鈥檚-specific boxing program that has been researched and scientifically proven to help slow down the progression of the disease. Forced intense exercise like non-contact boxing has also been shown to help maintain balance, strength, mobility and activities of daily living.
Boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, footwork and overall strength to defend against and overcome opponents. The program is recognized by Parkinson Society B.C.
The program has run successfully in New Westminster for three years, and head coach Robyn Murrell said she鈥檚 looking forward to bringing the class to Abbotsford.
鈥淚 am excited to be able to help more people living with Parkinson鈥檚 by bringing Rock Steady Boxing to Abbotsford in April,鈥� she stated in a press release. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen first-hand how this program benefits people fighting back against the disease in more ways than one.鈥�
The Abbotsford class will be the first Parkinson鈥檚-specific exercise program located east of Surrey, and organizers hope that it will attract participants from surrounding communities, including 黑马磁力, Aldergrove, Mission and Chilliwack.
Rock Steady Boxing classes are divided into various levels based upon each person鈥檚 unique Parkinson鈥檚 symptoms and overall level of fitness.
All potential boxers need to complete a 90-minute assessment with Murrell, to determine the class placement that would be of greatest benefit to them. Contact Murrell for more details at abbotsfordfraser@rsbaffiliate.com or 778-323-1465.
Parkinson鈥檚 is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. The exact cause remains unknownm, although loss of dopamine in the brain is present in all cases of the disease.
There are approximately 100,000 people (2008 figure) with Parkinson鈥檚 in Canada, with approximately 13,000 (2014/15) in British Columbia.
The average age of diagnosis is 60. Up to 20 per cent of individuals with Parkinson鈥檚 develop symptoms before the age of 60, which is known as Young Onset Parkinson鈥檚 Disease.
For more information on the class, visit facebook.com/RockSteadyBoxingAbbotsford.
