How To Turn Your “negatives” To “positives” With PD Exercises
September 19, 2017 is a date that Linda M. will never forget.
Before this day, she had gone to a neurologist for a check-up to ask why she was feeling weird in her hands and her feet.
As a writer and editor, she likes to take lots of notes. But she noticed that her writing got smaller and she couldn't read them anymore. She also noticed that she was slightly dragging her right foot when she was walking.
So she went to a neurologist and a movement disorder specialist to see what’s causing all these symptoms. And it didn’t take them long to diagnose her with Parkinson’s Disease.
The results marked something life-changing for Linda. However, she also remembers it mostly with a sigh of relief. She thought her condition was due to something worse.
But while Linda's outlook was relatively positive, to the people who love her, the diagnosis was devastating news. Her daughters even cried when she told them about her results.
Seeing things differently
Now for most people, a PD diagnosis can be monumental. Clearly, being told that you will be dealing with symptoms that will affect how you walk, talk, and do simple things all your life is a cause of great concern.
However, if there’s one thing that a lot of people don't realize is that anything life-changing also has two sides.
Most of us often see the negative. But some people like Linda see another side of things. And they’re the kind of people that we need to learn from.
Because even after her diagnosis and her family's initial reaction, Linda still refused to be dragged down by the condition.
She figured that PD or not, if she didn’t take care of herself, it would still affect her health negatively.
She knows people without PD who lose their balance because they don't exercise. So it’s not exactly being diagnosed that would affect her. It’s actually NOT doing something about it.
This is why she decided to be very intentional about dealing with its symptoms by eating healthy and fitting PD workouts into her schedule.
Turning a minus diagnosis to a plus strength with PD exercises
And Linda’s efforts to live healthy did bring positive results.
She has gone to the neurologist again and her tests showed significant improvement. Even her massage therapist, who has seen her for 12 years, said her muscles feel better toned and her body seems to be getting younger.
She now feels more energetic and she has lost weight. She can turn over better in bed, get up from the floor easily, and the plantar pain in the heel of her right foot has gone away.
She also started to write again, and even though she still feels sad about not being able to write the same way that she used to, she has now learned to focus on writing slowly and larger.
Being intentional about dealing with her symptoms did affect her life in a lot of good ways.
In some weird ways, she’s healthier with Parkinson’s than she was before!
And she continues to challenge herself with PD workouts to strengthen her body. Her next goal? Boxing.
Why PD Boxing?
Specialized boxing for PD is often called “Rock Steady Boxing” and it combines traditional boxing drills with routines that are made to target PD symptoms. It’s a non-combat exercise, meaning you don’t box with a person, but it’s still a full-body workout where you get to improve your balance and enhance your brain and body coordination.
Now a lot of people get scared about trying Boxing at the gym because it might be difficult. However, for Linda, it was something she wanted to do precisely because it’s challenging and therefore would give more benefits to her body.
And she’s not wrong because research proves it too.
In fact, in this feasibility study, they had participants undergo a 15-week exercise program with three 1-hour sessions per week of boxing training for PD. Each session included warmups and rounds of boxing.
And the result showed that those who have completed the program have an improved motor score!
Getting started with PD Boxing
There are a number of ways to get started with PD boxing. In fact, if you’re interested in trying them just like Linda, here are some steps to get you going:
1. Consult the experts first.
Before starting any new workout, it’s always best to talk to professionals to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for your fitness level. You don't want to try routines that would only hurt you because they’re too advanced.
2. Look for boxing programs in your area.
After asking for professional advice, you can then start searching for the best boxing programs and gyms in your area. You should aim for centers that are specifically designed to help individuals with PD.
3. Stay consistent.
The key to seeing the benefits of any exercise is to be consistent with it. This is no different from PD boxing. To maintain progress and build strength, it is also important to attend classes regularly.
Now some of the common routines in a boxing class include:
Warm-up exercises
Agility exercises to help improve balance
Punching speed bags to improve brain and body coordination
Punching heavy bags to build strength and muscle
If you want to reap the benefits of your boxing classes, you need to make sure you get consistent with these routines as well.
It’s time to get intentional with your exercises
Linda’s new goal to conquer boxing is her way of turning her “negative” to “positive”.
Because while some people say that having PD is a weakness that can interfere with doing exercises like boxing, Linda just thinks of it as a challenge to prove that she can do it.
This also further shows that you also have the power to change anything, even those are deemed “life-changing”. Because really, nothing’s cast in stone.
This is why it’s so important to take charge of your life by exercising, even if those routines seem hard or unenjoyable at first.
Another thing that’s also necessary is finding a community of like-minded and optimistic people. These people will help you celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and remind you that you’re doing something positive for your health.
This is how Linda kept winning in life even after her diagnosis. And her journey is a story worth listening to in this full interview.
So you see, being intentional with your exercises is the best way to turn a negative diagnosis around. And while it may not erase the results, it will still give you power to push through it.
Want to get started with your boxing and other routines at home? You can check out our video gallery and online classes here.
Or if you’re in the California area, come visit our gym for in-person classes.
Let’s do this together!