Don King, on Mike Tyson


"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter?
He went to prison, not to Princeton."



"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music
and the dancers hit each other."

Monday, April 29, 2013

In This Corner of China, Boxing’s Next Frontier

 With a population of over a billion people, you can imagine the potential market for promoters like Bob Arum to put together Super fights!
 
 
By GREG BISHOP (NYT)
A top boxing promoter sees potential for financial success in Macau, a gambling enclave in China, and other parts of Asia, with the United States becoming a secondary market. 









 

Arreola's face was literally covered with blood; his nose was broken in the third.

Now he’s set to go against Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title. 

arreola bloody face

Chris Arreola’s face is bloodied by Bermane Stervirne (photo courtesy of (German Villasenor / Doghouse Boxing)

 

Ringside Update: Big Boxing Weekend

Arreola's face was literally covered with blood; his nose was broken in the third.   
 
 
 





 by Mohammed Mubarak
 Source:
http://www.eurweb.com/?p=322425


* Chris Arreola is one of the most exciting fighters in the game because he will take tremendous punishment in hopes of landing his own heavy punches.  The picture above does not look like a guy who was going to prevail in the fight.... and Chris lost this one by unanimous decision.




Sunday, April 28, 2013

Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"The view on him was that he was a boxer and you would not want to mess with him."
LUIS VASQUEZ, a former schoolmate of Tamerlan Tsarnaev.


A Battered Dream, Then a Violent Path

By DEBORAH SONTAG, DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and SERGE F. KOVALESKI

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a winner of Golden Gloves titles, was barred from a national boxing tournament because he was not a United States citizen. 


Tamerlan Tsarnaev, right, lost at the Golden Gloves championships in 2009. A year later, a new citizenship rule blocked him.
Glenn Depriest/Getty Images
Tamerlan Tsarnaev, right, lost at the Golden Gloves championships in 2009. A year later, a new citizenship rule blocked him.













 

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Many hockey parents are surprised to learn that the insurance that comes with registration does not cover brain injury.








brain injuries

 
 
Hockey shocker: Amateurs’ insurance doesn’t cover brain injuries
 

Many hockey parents are surprised to learn that the insurance that comes with registration does not cover brain injury.

Photograph by: Photo illustration , Ben Ngai

Hockey parents are in shock after learning their kids are not covered for brain injury in a concussion-plagued sport.
“I am shocked and dismayed. And surprised,” said hockey dad Doug Jackson, whose daughter was playing in the 2013 Esso Cup in Burnaby on Wednesday. The Esso Cup is the major midget women’s Canadian championship tournament.
“Head injuries are the big issue right now,” said Jackson. “They absolutely should do something about it.”
Another tournament dad, Willem Verbeek, of Timmins, Ont., said he was surprised to hear Hockey Canada’s insurance policy for minor players doesn’t cover brain injuries.


‘SHOULD BE LOOKED AT’

Verbeek, whose daughter Sarah was playing centre for Ontario, said he would “definitely” pay more for better insurance coverage.
“I think it should be looked at,” he said.
Hockey Canada and others are currently embroiled in a legal battle with the family of Darren More, a Vancouver Island man who in 2004 suffered a severe brain injury while wearing a helmet in a Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association game.
The family’s first legal fight against the helmet’s manufacturer, Bauer, failed in 2010.

CASE IN COURT IN JULY

The latest suit against Hockey Canada, the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association, Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association and Citadel Insurance will be heard in B.C. Supreme court in July.
Citadel had asked the court that they be excluded from the action. The family claims the insurance arrangement between Citadel and Hockey Canada was illegal and void.
Earlier this month a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that Citadel is to remain part of the action and that determining whether the insurance policy was legal must be dealt with in court.


CONCUSSIONS MAJOR PROBLEM

In his reasons for judgement, Mr. Justice John Steeves pointed out that brain injury was not covered by the Citadel policy. However, there was provision for $25,000 if a player lost the use of both hands and up to $1 million if a player was left quadriplegic.
Concussions are a major problem in hockey. A new Toronto hospital study of 13,000 injured children from 1990 to 2009 found hockey accounted for 44.3 per cent of brain injuries.
Tim Ramage, of Burnaby, was watching his daughter play on Wednesday and said he has bought extra insurance to cover her. His 11-year-old son has already suffered three concussions playing hockey.
Dr. Ian Pike, director of the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit, said concussions “pose a much more serious threat than we thought,” and noted that prevention and public health education efforts had ramped up.


‘SIMPLY UNAFFORDABLE’


Hockey Canada would not comment on their player insurance policy because of the legal action with More and his parents.
However, according to Hockey Canada documents, the per-player basic insurance fee is $16.15 per year. The Hockey Canada 2012-13 player safety handbook states “insurance is not available to cover many hockey-related risk exposures, as many times the desired coverage is simply unaffordable.”
Kieran Bridge, the lawyer acting for More and his parents, said a key issue in this summer’s legal battle will be, “was this insurance adequate?”

‘COMPLETELY UNEMPLOYABLE’

Bridge said that so far there has been almost no insurance money to help care for More.
“Darren is in a bad way, medically,” Bridge said. “He is completely unemployable and requires constant attention.”
Harold Bloomenthal, president of the Juan de Fuca minor hockey association, thinks it’s time brain injuries were covered.
“It’s counterintuitive not to provide that kind of insurance,” said Bloomenthal, who was present when More was injured. “Should they charge more and provide coverage? That would be my belief.”

HOCKEY, SKIING ‘TOO RISKY’

Murray Morrison, president of Vancouver’s All Sport Insurance Ltd., said his company won’t cover hockey or downhill skiing — they’re too risky. He suggested others might cover hockey head injuries, for a price.
“Five more dollars a year would buy a heck of an insurance policy, said Morrison, adding: “Sports associations haven’t got any money, the government is cutting back on funding and the parents don’t want to pay any more in fees.”

He said the outcome of the More case might prompt an overhaul.
“If the family is successful in suing Hockey Canada, it might compel sports associations to review what they’re doing.”


eoconnor@theprovince.com
 
 
 
 Source:
 
 





Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Brain Disease and the N.F.L.


More than 4,000 retired players are suing the National Football League for failing to protect players from chronic risks of head injuries routinely inflicted in professional football games — and then willfully concealing those risks from players. 

In a brief summarizing the players’ position, lawyers say that:

 serious head injuries “cause neurocognitive decline, permanent mental disability, and even death.”

The suits are grouped in more than 200 cases. In Philadelphia this week, attorneys for both sides appeared before Judge Anita Brody of Federal District Court, who is considering whether the cases can proceed. 

The N.F.L. argued that the cases amounted to a labor dispute that the judge should dismiss. Issues of health and safety, the league argued, are covered by the collective bargaining agreement between the players’ union and the league and thus should be addressed in a traditional labor-management setting, not a federal courtroom.

Judge Brody should allow the cases to proceed. Though the players would have to show that their injuries were not sustained in college or high school, they deserve the chance to prove in court that there is a link between the violent professional game and head trauma, and that the injuries occurred because the N.F.L. breached a common-law duty to avoid this harm.

Last year, an extensive study of brain samples from deceased football and hockey players, military veterans and others who suffered repeated hits to the head added to the mounting evidence of a link between head trauma and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., an incurable, degenerative disease leading to dementia and depression.

The players contend that for decades the league knew of these risks and had a duty to warn about and protect against them. Instead, they argue in their brief, the N.F.L. engaged in a “campaign of disinformation.”

After years of debate in the volatile court of public opinion, the place to address and resolve these serious and important charges is in a steady and independent court of law.
  


 

April 11, 2013
Brain Disease and the N.F.L.
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Source:
 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/opinion/brain-disease-and-the-nfl-go-to-court.html?nl=opinion&emc=edit_ty_20130412&_r=0


 

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Concussion symptoms and management

New Guideline For Managing Concussion

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 19 Mar 2013 - 0:00 PDT
Current ratings for:
New Guideline For Managing Concussion
Patient / Public:
Healthcare Prof:

The American Academy of Neurology has released its guideline for evaluating and managing athletes with concussion. The AAN says that over one million sportsmen and sportswomen in the USA experience a concussion annually. This is the first concussion update in 15 years.

According to the AAN (American Academy of Neurology), which published the new guideline in Neurology (March 18th, 2013 issue), Americans now have an objective, evidence-based review of the literature by a committee of experts from various fields.
The Academy added that its guideline has been endorsed by a wide range of sports, medical and patient groups, including: The National Association of Emergency Medical Service Physicians, the Neurocritical Care Society, the American Football Coaches Association, the National Football League Players Association, the Child Neurology Society, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Athletic Trainers Association.

If you suspect concussion, remove the athlete from play immediately

Co-lead guideline author, Christopher C. Giza, MD, with the David Geffen School of Medicine and Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, explained that it is imperative that any athlete who is suspected of experiencing concussion be removed from play straight away.

Dr. Giza said:
"We've moved away from the concussion grading systems we first established in 1997 and are now recommending concussion and return to play be assessed in each athlete individually. There is no set timeline for safe return to play."


The updated guideline recommends:

  • Immediate action - any athlete with suspected concussion must be taken out of the game immediately

  • See a specialist - that athlete should not be allowed to return until an examination has been carried out by a licensed health care professional trained in concussion

  • A gradual return to play - return to play should be done slowly, and only after acute symptoms have completely disappeared

  • Children and teenagers - athletes up to high school age with a concussion "should be managed more conservatively" regarding when they be allowed to come back to the game. According to available evidence, this age group takes longer to recover than older sports people
The authors of the guideline gathered and examined all available evidence that was published in academic journals up to the end of June 2012.

The author panel included a broad range of expertise, the AAN informed. They spent "thousands of work hours" locating and examining scientific studies. They excluded studies that did not provide compelling evidence to make recommendations, such as expert opinions or anecdotal accounts. Each study was independently analyzed and graded by two or more authors.

The guideline says that:
  • The sports with the greatest risk of concussion are football and rugby, and then hockey and soccer, among males

  • Among females, soccer and basketball have the greatest risk of concussion

  • A sportsman or sportswoman who has already experienced at least one concussion is more likely to be diagnosed with another, compared to athletes with no history of concussion

  • After being diagnosed with concussion, the patient is at greatest risk of being diagnosed with another concussion during the following ten days

  • The authors found no compelling evidence that demonstrated that one type of football helmet is better than another at protecting the athlete against concussion.

  • Doctors who are trained in treating concussion should look for ongoing symptoms, particularly fogginess and headache, a history of concussions, and younger age in the athlete. These factors have been individually associated with longer recovery after a concussion.

  • Athletes with a prior concussion, long exposure to a sport, and those that have the ApoE4 gene have a higher risk of experiencing chronic neurobehavioral impairment.
The AAN emphasized that "Concussion is a clinical diagnosis. Symptom checklists, the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), neuropsychological testing (paper-and-pencil and computerized) and the Balance Error Scoring System may be helpful tools in diagnosing and managing concussions but should not be used alone for making a diagnosis."

The signs and symptoms of concussion:

  • Headache
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sensitivity to sound
  • Changes to reaction time
  • Changes in judgment
  • Changes in speech
  • Changes in sleep
  • Loss of consciousness, or a " blackout" (occurs in less than 10% of concussions)
Jeffrey S. Kutcher, MD, with the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor and a member of the AAN, said:

"If in doubt, sit it out. Being seen by a trained professional is extremely important after a concussion. If headaches or other symptoms return with the start of exercise, stop the activity and consult a doctor. You only get one brain; treat it well."


Should there be absolute rest after a concussion? - the guideline states that there is insufficient compelling evidence to support absolute rest after concussion, but the athlete should be immediately removed from play.

Part of concussion management may include activities known not to worsen symptoms and which are not linked to a risk of repeat concussion.
Sports Concussion Tool Kit - American Academy of Neurology

The AAN has also launched an app called "Concussion Quick Check" which is available for iPad, Android, IOS (Apple) and some other mobile devices. It is aimed at helping coaches, trainers, parents and other athletes rapidly decide whether somebody is experiencing concussion and needs to see a doctor.




American Academy of Neurology

"Summary of evidence-based guideline update: Evaluation and management of concussion in sports"
Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology
Christopher C. Giza, MD, Jeffrey S. Kutcher, MD, Stephen Ashwal, MD, FAAN, Jeffrey Barth, PhD, Thomas S.D. Getchius, Gerard A. Gioia, PhD, Gary S. Gronseth, MD, FAAN, Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC, Steven Mandel, MD, FAAN, Geoffrey Manley, MD, PhD, Douglas B. McKeag, MD, MS, David J. Thurman, MD, FAAN and Ross Zafonte, DO
Published online before print March 18, 2013, doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828d57dd
Neurology 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828d57dd

 
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA
Nordqvist, Christian. "New Guideline For Managing Concussion." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 19 Mar. 2013. Web.
16 Apr. 2013.

APA
Nordqvist, C. (2013, March 19). "New Guideline For Managing Concussion." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257811.php.

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.



2013 Sports Concussion Guideline Press Conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2PXnmi0sYeU

"The American Academy of Neurology, the world's largest association of neurologists, is the trusted authority in managing sports concussion. We hope this easy-to-access tool will help coaches, athletic trainers, parents and athletes alike to quickly determine if an athlete shows signs of concussion and needs to see a licensed health care professional trained in managing concussion, such as a neurologist. It's a perfect tool to have on your iPad or smart phone when coaching or watching a game from the sidelines."


Download the Concussion Quick Check Reference Sheet.

Written by Christian Nordqvist concussionapp

 Source:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257811.php


 Written by Christian Nordqvist



Ice Hockey Causes 44.3% Of All Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Canadian Kids


Nearly half of all traumatic brain injuries among children in Canada who needed to be taken to an emergency department are caused by ice hockey, researchers from St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, reported in the journal PLOS ONE.

Dr. Michael Cusimano and team, who claim that their study is the first-of-its-kind, gathered and examined data on the causes of sports-related brain injuries among Canadian children. 


They also identified which preventive measures could be implemented straight away to make children's sports safer.

Lead author, Dr. Cusimano, a neurosurgeon, said:


"Unless we understand how children are getting hurt in sport, we can't develop ways to prevent these serious injuries from happening. One would think that we know the reasons why kids are having brain injuries in sports, but until know, it was based mainly on anecdotes."


Sports-related head injuries can have lingering effects on children.
Researchers from the University of Oregon found that high school athletes who suffered concussion continued having problems focusing and switching tasks readily amid distractions two months after their injury.


In this latest study, the team looked at the records from The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program, which included information on 13,000 children and teenagers who had sustained a sports-related brain injury between 1990 and 2009.
The authors categorized the young sportspeople's injuries according to their ages, the type of sport they were practicing, when the injury occurred, and what caused it (a blow by another player, an object, etc.).

Below is a breakdown of the main sports that cause the majority of sports-related head injuries among Canadian children and teenagers:
  • Ice Hockey caused 44.3% of all sports-related injuries among Canadian children and teenagers. Most of the injuries (nearly 70%) affected children aged over ten years as a result of being hit into boards or player-to-player contact.

    It is not surprising that hockey - Canada's national sport - causes so many head injuries, Dr. Cusimano added. "This shows that body contact is still an area where we need to make major inroads to preventing brain injuries. For example, enforcing existing rules and making more effective incentives and disincentives about checking from behind could make huge improvements."

  • Soccer accounted for 19% of all sports-related brain injuries. Most injuries affected children in the 10-14 and 15-19 age groups. In these two age groups, the most common cause of injury was being hit by another player, being kicked in the head, and head-to-head collisions. Among kids aged 5 to 9 years, traumatic brain injuries were more likely to be caused by striking a goal post or a surface, the researchers found.

    Dr. Cusimano said "There's a really straightforward solution here. Padding the goal posts could have potentially prevented a large number of these brain injuries in young children."

  • Baseball, which caused 15.3% of all sports-related head injuries, was also found to affect a higher percentage of younger children. Forty-five percent of all serious head injuries in baseball affected children aged under nine years.

    Not being supervised by an adult, or standing too close to the batter or bat were the most common causes of injuries among childhood baseball players.

    Dr. Cusimano said "These results give us a very specific prevention message for kids under nine who play baseball: make helmets and supervision a mandatory. The younger the child, the more supervision they need when using things like bats and balls. Simple rules around not being close to the batter can be taught to children and adults."

  • Football accounted for 12.9% of all injuries, most of which were caused by tackling. Tackling was the main cause of all rugby injuries. Rugby caused 5.6% of all sports-related head injuries.

  • Basketball - accounted for 11.6% of all injuries, most of them caused by players elbowing each other. The risk of injuries grew as the players got older.
Dr. Cusimano concluded:
"There is a real opportunity for prevention here. Having educational programs, proper equipment, rules and other incentives that support a culture of safety in sports should be a mandate of parents, coaches, players, sports organizations, schools, sports sponsors, and other groups like governments."


 The study was funded by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The American Academy of Neurology, which released its first updated guidelines on evaluating and managing athletes with concussion in 15 years, informed that over one million Americans experience sports-related head injuries (concussions) annually.





 Cusimano MD, Cho N, Amin K, Shirazi M, McFaull SR, et al.
”Mechanisms of Team-Sport-Related Brain Injuries in Children 5 to 19 Years Old: Opportunities for Prevention”
PLoS ONE 8(3): e58868. April 2013. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058868

 Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Nordqvist, Christian. "Ice Hockey Causes 44.3% Of All Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Canadian Kids." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 1 Apr. 2013. Web.
16 Apr. 2013.

APA
Nordqvist, C. (2013, April 1). "Ice Hockey Causes 44.3% Of All Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Canadian Kids." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/258450.php.

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today




Source:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/258450.php



*Did you believe Hockey would be so high on the head injury tally for concussions????? Lots higher than football....Participation is probably much higher for hockey than for football in Canada.




The Parkinson's Defense


Boxers work to knock out Parkinson's symptoms






Parkinson's disease in 2006, she could barely bring herself to leave her house. Her muscles were weak, and she was having a hard time coping.

''I've always done sports and stuff like that, and it was getting to be too much just sitting and doing nothing,'' she said.

In 2007, she found Rock Steady Boxing in Indianapolis. She now attends classes every week and has seen her symptoms ease as a result of a rigorous regimen of punching, jumping, jogging and stretching.

''It makes my muscles stronger. I can walk better,'' said Yeaman, 64.

Rock Steady, founded in 2006 by former Marion County prosecutor Scott C. Newman after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 40, gives people suffering from the disease an outlet to ease their symptoms and improve their physical fitness. Through boxing-inspired fitness classes, participants use exercise to slow the symptoms of a progressive neurological disease that causes tremors, muscle rigidity, loss of balance and cognitive, speech and vision impairment.

''Sometimes people get very discouraged when they are diagnosed with Parkinson's, understandably facing a disease that is progressive, that's going to worsen over time and that can take a big toll on them,'' said neurologist and Rock Steady board member Dr. S. Elizabeth Zauber.

''When they come to a gym and realize that ... there are people that are experiencing the same thing (and) there is something they can do about it to get better and perhaps slow down the course of their disease, then that improves their overall outlook. They realize they're still very capable physically even though they have a neurological disease.''

Rock Steady offers 16 classes a week. The organization's 125 clients range in age from late 30s to early 90s.

Classes in the gym adorned with photos of boxer Muhammad Ali, who also suffers from Parkinson's, start slow with a warm-up before participants dive into more rigorous exercise. Coaches set up several stations throughout the small gym with a different exercise at each one. Participants punch hanging boxing bags and speed balls, jump rope and toss medicine balls.

The exercises at Rock Steady are based on boxing drills, and they're meant to extend the perceived capabilities of those suffering from Parkinson's. There are four different class levels, based on the severity of the symptoms.

Boxing works well to combat the disease because of the range of motion required in the exercises, Zauber said.

''I see all the time in my patients that start exercising or my patients that are exercising that they tend to function better,'' she said. ''They have improvements in their balance, improvements in sleep, in mood and energy level.''

The organization offers more than just physical improvement.

''It's a support system,'' said Joyce Johnson, executive director of the organization. ''It's being able to come here where people understand the symptoms and challenges of the disease.''

Yeaman said Rock Steady is the ''best thing that's ever happened'' to her and called her classmates her ''second family.''

''These people are always there for you no matter what happens,'' she said.

Classes are led by program directors Kristy Rose Follmar and Christine Timberlake. Follmar is a former professional boxer, and Timberlake is a certified personal trainer whose husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2000.

Timberlake said she couldn't get her husband, Tom, ''to do anything'' before he starting coming to Rock Steady. About a month after he started attending classes, she said she saw a change in body, mind and attitude.

''He's completely transformed,'' she said. ''He's making the most out of life.''

Parkinson's affects about 1.5 million people in the United States. It currently has no cure.

---

Watch the video here: http://bit.ly/16MnOKj

---

Associated Press photographer Mike Conroy contributed to this story.




Boxer's death not our fault, says UK boxing boss



BBBC general secretary, Robert Smith, defends procedures
'Every boxer who participates knows the dangers'
    Press Association
    The Guardian, Sunday 7 April 2013 17.56 BST

    Michael Norgrove's death not our fault, says UK boxing boss


    The British Boxing Board of Control general secretary, Robert Smith, insists the death of Michael Norgrove was a result of the inherent danger of the sport rather than any procedural failings.

    Norgrove died in hospital on Saturday, nine days after developing a blood clot on his brain during his sixth professional fight, against Tom Bowen at The Ring in Blackfriars, London.

    The referee, Jeff Hinds, stopped the contest early in the fifth of the scheduled six rounds after growing concerned by the 31-year-old light-middleweight's behaviour. Norgrove subsequently collapsed and was immediately taken to hospital.

    "We are one of the strictest authorities in the world," Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live. "This is an acute injury that can happen any time. He had his medicals done and had his brain scans done.

    "There was nothing there of any concern whatsoever, otherwise he wouldn't have been in the ring. He was a fit young man but we can't guarantee an acute injury can't happen – no doctor in the world can guarantee an acute injury can't happen."

    "We all know the dangers that boxing has, every boxer that participates knows the dangers."

    "As a governing body we put in place all the medical provisions we possibly can, but of course these things still happen."

    Norgrove, a former amateur and white-collar fighter from Woodford Green, is the first boxer to die in a British ring since Scottish bantamweight James Murray in Glasgow in 1995.





    Source:   http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/apr/07/michael-norgrove-death-bbbc-robert-smith



    Can Boxing Training Improve Parkinson's Symptoms?


    After former Marion County Prosecutor, Scott C. Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 41, he began an intensive, high-energy one-on-one boxing training program which he claims dramatically improved his agility, daily functioning and overall physical health.

    In 2006, thanks to private donations, Newman founded Rock Steady Boxing, the only boxing program in the USA aimed at people with Parkinson's disease. He started off with a small gym and boxing ring.

    Newman hired former world champion professional boxer Kristy Rose Follmar, who helped build up Rock Steady's program during its initial stages. Today she is head trainer at Rock Steady Boxing.

    The unique high-intensity boxing program gradually became more popular as word-of-mouth recommendations spread. Newman says there is a program for all stages of Parkinson's - from newly diagnosed patients to people who have been living with the disease for decades. Male and female, young and old individuals can find a program that is suitable for their levels of fitness, age, and severity of symptoms.

    Newman and team explain that boxing training offers Parkinson's patients targeted workouts as well as lots of fun. It is also a way of forming friendships with other people who really do understand what it is like to have to live with Parkinson's disease.


    Boxing gloves
    Rock Steady Boxing is a boxing program in the USA aimed at helping people with Parkinson's disease.
    By 2010, Rock Steady had outgrown its premises and started looking for a larger facility. In February 2011, a boxing gym was opened in Indianapolis thanks to a $100,000 "Impact Grant" and a partnership with Peak Performance Fitness Center.

    Thanks to the Impact 100 grant, Rock Steady was able to gradually increase the number of classes available. Doctors started referring patients early in their diagnosis to Rock Steady sessions as part of their regime to slow down Parkinson's progression.

    Rock Steady has a simple message:

    "If you are living with Parkinson's, you are not alone. Our boxers may not win titles or trophies, but they are all champions in the Rock Steady Boxing ring."


    Trainers can learn the Rock Steady method at "Rock Steady Training Camp".

    Newman's aim is to reach thousands of individuals with Parkinson's throughout the USA who need help with coordination, agility, balance, strength, daily functioning and overall physical health.

    Attacking Parkinson's at its vulnerable neurological points

    The training classes focus on attacking Parkinson's at its most vulnerable neurological points.

    The classes (all non-contact) concentrate on overall fitness and include:
    • calisthenics
    • core work
    • double-ended bags
    • focus mitts
    • heavy bags
    • jump rope
    • ring work
    • speed bags
    • circuit weight training
    What if I have no boxing experience? - the courses are aimed at people with Parkinson's of all ages, with or without boxing experience.

    Is boxing better than physical therapy or going to exercise classes at my local fitness center? - Newman says that a number of studies carried out during the latter part of the last century showed that intensive exercise, focusing on gross motor movement, rhythm, core strength, balance, and hand-eye coordination can help improve flexibility, range of motion, gait, posture, and activities of daily living - all serious issues for patients with Parkinson's disease.

    In February 2012, Daniel Corcos, a professor of kinesiology and nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said "It became obvious several years ago that exercise really was good for people with Parkinson's disease. Not only is it good for the heart, the brain, and muscles in the same way it is for healthy people, it also modifies signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease."

    Jay L. Alberts, a neuroscientist at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, and team found that hard and fast cycling on a stationary bike benefits people with Parkinson's disease. They presented their findings at the Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago. Alberts explained that cycling, especially at rates higher than what patients would normally choose for themselves, appeared to make regions of the brain involved in movement connect to each other more effectively.

    Newman explains that the Rock Steady boxing regime stimulates and exercises the whole body and parts of the brain that improve the patient's hand-eye coordination, flexibility, agility, speed, power, strength, and endurance. Boxing training also improves balance.

    Do participants need a doctor's recommendation to attend Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) classes? - Yes. Participants must have a physician's release. They are encouraged to always discuss any form of exercise they are doing within or outside RSB with their doctors. Patients with cardiac problems, especially, must clear their participation with their doctors.

    Parkinson's Class

    Scott Newman says that people at Rock Steady are learning, on a daily basis, that they can fight back at Parkinson's disease and improve their quality of life by building muscle strength, speed and flexibility.

    Through exercise with trainers who have been taught the Rock Steady method, which is specifically aimed at people with Parkinson's, you "can fight your way out of the corner and start to feel and function better".

    Boxing training moves the human body in all planes of motion, movements are unpredictable and routines are forever changing as you progress through the workout. It has been proven, Newman says, that his classes help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life and overall health.

    There are four levels of Parkinson's Classes, each one based on the individuals' Parkinson's symptoms and general level of fitness. People wishing to enter a course need to complete a 90-minute assessment with a trained Rock Steady coach to determine which level suits them best. The assessments are free.

    KrossBox Class

    Newman refers to the KrossBox class as "fitness with a punch". They are high-intensity sessions that combine cardio and strength training. KrossBox Class is available to males and females aged 18+ years.

    Participants train for a real fight (non-contact) and have to undergo a range of demanding activities to achieve total fitness.

    Through KrossBox, participants build:
    • Cardio endurance
    • More lean muscle mass
    • Superior strength
    • Extra power
    With the guidance of their trainers, participants go through real boxing workouts "without the stress of actually competing". There is the option of taking part in sparring sessions. Individuals have the benefit of one-on-one attention from trainers who are not concentrating on the fight, but rather its preparation. According to Newman "We'll get your body in shape by training you like a pro!"

    Rock Steady Boxing - NBC Nightly News




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    Written by Christian Nordqvist
    Copyright: Medical News Today


     Source:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259099.php