Class helps fight Parkinson's one punch at a time

Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Battling Parkinson's in the gym
Battling Parkinson's in the gym.

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A gym in Cary is helping patients with Parkinson's fight the disease with a special boxing class tailored just for them.

Each exercise works on a symptom: stretching for stiffness; footwork and punching for balance and to steady tremors

Shouting during exercise counters the voice Parkinson's tries to steal.

Rock Steady Boxing uses professional boxing techniques, with low impact.

It started at a gym in Indianapolis and it's taking the country by storm.

WATCH: See more from Anna Laurel's 5 p.m. segment

Rock Steady Boxing offers classes tailored for people with Parkinson's

The class in Cary just started a few weeks ago and people are already seeing results.

Another benefit is the camaraderie and the group support gained during the classes.

Researchers are studying why they are seeing such positive results in Parkinson's patients who do these boxing classes. The theory is boxing generates a renewed growth of the kind of brain cells damaged by the disease.

Check out Rock Steady Cary on Facebook.

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