Boxing Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series

A recent case series was performed with the purpose of describing the effects of disease severity and duration of boxing training on changes in balance, mobility, and quality of life for patients with mild or moderate to severe PD. Several studies support that rigorous exercise, emphasizing gross motor movement, balance, core strength; rhythm and hand-eye coordination can favorably impact range of motion, flexibility, posture, gait, and activities of daily living.

More recent studies, most notably at Cleveland Clinic, focus on the concept of intense “forced” exercise, and suggest that certain types of exercise are neuro-protective (a type of exercise that may actually slow disease progression). The rapid movements involved in jumping and punching increases over-all muscle fire ability.

Six patients with idiopathic PD attended 24 to 36 boxing training sessions for 12 weeks. The 90-minute sessions included boxing drills and traditional stretching, strengthening, and endurance exercises. The outcomes were tested at the baseline and after 12, 24, and 36 weeks of boxing sessions. Several outcome measures were completed including the Functional Reach Test, Berg Balance Scale, gait speed, activities of daily living and motor examination, and Parkinson Disease Quality of Life Scale. In combination with fitness activities, boxing training incorporates whole-body movements, with upper extremity punching motions and lower-extremity footwork in multiple directions.

The punching actions combine high-speed arm motions with trunk rotations and anticipatory postural adjustments. Despite the progressive nature of PD, the patients in this case series showed short-term and long-term improvements in balance, gait, activities of daily living, and quality of life after attending the boxing training program.