Amateur boxers throw a punch at Parkinson's

A trainer tells a boxer to jab, cross, hook, cross, hook, pause. The boxer goes through the movements, completing the combination. It's a common scene at United Boxing Club, but this time it's a little different — the boxer has Parkinson's.

"It may seem counterintuitive to think that boxing would be good for someone with Parkinson's," said Tim Hague, founder of U-Turn Parkinson's, the group that hosts Rock Steady Boxing at United Boxing Club.

"We don't hit each other; it's a non-contact boxing inspired program."  

In March 2011, it was Hague's own diagnosis of Parkinson's, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system, that made him look into the benefits of exercise, specifically boxing.

"Research has shown that any forced activity is good for the brain, and we do a lot of stretching, forcing our limbs out long and lean, making our brains work differently again than we've had for a long time because we tend to curl up, we tend to stop moving," he said.

Genevieve Michael, a volunteer coach, says that while boxing is an intimidating sport, the program creates a warm and inviting environment, but doesn't take it easy on the athletes.

"I think it's a tough program; we treat every participant as an athlete, and they are ridiculous athletes," she said.

"Some of them work harder than some of the participants who come here who don't have the challenges in their lives like these individuals do with Parkinson's disease, and they're seeing results."