Camille Koga is a Physical Therapist Assistant and certified Rock Steady Boxing coach at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital
A new exercise program at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital is helping patients to mitigate motor symptoms related to Parkinson’s Disease.
The Intermountain Health Rock Steady Boxing Classes are non-contact boxing classes where participants glove up and hit heavy bags.
Camille Kopa, Physical Therapist Assistant and certified Rock Steady Boxing coach, has seen improvements in her clients’ Parkinson’s symptoms.
“Boxing is high intensity, and forced exercise is a perfect way to challenge people with PD., Time is spent doing boxing drills on boxing bags mixed with exercises to improve coordination, strength balance and endurance,” said Kopa.
A disease of the central nervous system, Parkinson’s begins when certain nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, begin to die. Dopamine is a chemical that sends messages to the parts of the brain that control movement, mood, and motivation.
The amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases as the disease progresses, causing stiffness, slowness, tremor, and difficulty walking along with many “non-motor” symptoms you can’t see like depression, apathy, constipation, low blood pressure, and urinary trouble.
Research has shown that exercise can improve motor symptoms and it may even be disease modifying.
“The goal of class is to be a space where people can connect with each other while getting tailored exercise routines,” said Koga. “We don’t just workout together, we are a group of friends fighting this disease. We strive to increase intensity of exercise and to push everyone. They can do more than they think they can and deserve to be given the chance to work hard.”
The exercises in the class are also modified to be conscious of safety for each participant, as necessary.
Reassessments are held twice a year to evaluate where patients are at in function and mobility. Many see some improvement when they start the classes given that the nature of Parkinson’s is always progressing.
Kopa recognizes and notes that clients attending class have expressed they have had improvements and prolonged maintenance of function in their Parkinson’s symptoms.
“A client was unable to walk with a narrow gait and after doing classes for a few months he has improved his balance and can walk heel/toe like he is on a balance beam. This is a common sentiment. People come to class feeling stiff or saying they don’t feel their best, but after class they leave feeling better than when they came in.”
Classes are offered at Stewart Rehab on McKay-Dee Hospital’s North Campus in Ogden, Utah, twice a week with a physician’s referral. For more information on Parkinson’s Disease and treatment, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/healing-for-life/neurological-care/parkinsons-rehab/.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.