Knock Out Parkinson's

The sound of boxing gloves hitting their targets fills the third floor gym in the Professional Building on the NKCH campus. Coaches tell the fighters to stand straight and move their feet. Their opponent is a formidable enemy: Parkinson’s disease. The fighters, age 50s-70s, are gearing up for the match of their lives.

In This Corner, Hope

Jill Sartain and Shanna Watt, Community Health and Wellness, work with the fighters in a program called Rock Steady. As certified Rock Steady instructors, Jill and Shanna use non-contact boxing techniques to help reduce, lessen or delay the symptoms of Parkinson’s. The hospital's program started in 2017 and has grown from one class to nine classes.

Steven Kosa, MD, Meritas Health Neurology, asked the hospital to become involved with Rock Steady because of its potential to help people lead healthier, happier lives. Shanna and Jill quickly became proponents. “Many of these people are told that today is the best they will ever feel,” Shanna said. “This can be a game changer, and it may provide a better quality of life for a terminal disease.”

In addition to the physical component of the program, participants also develop a bond. “There is a lot of emotional warfare caused by this disease. Everyone has a great spirit and wonderful sense of humor that the disease can’t take away,” Jill said.

Boxing helps participants address their Parkinson’s symptoms. For example, warmup stretches help reduce joint and muscle stiffness; footwork improves balance; sparring (with instructors) strengthens eye-hand coordination; and punching speed bags helps steady tremors.

NKCH is the only Kansas City-area hospital that offers Rock Steady. Our certified instructors assess each new participant to determine placement in one of four levels. Classes include 45-minutes of forced, intense exercise, which has been shown in medical studies to slow Parkinson’s progression. Each fighter is encouraged to bring a Corner Chick or Corner Man to assist during the one-hour session.

Check out new class sessions and register on our website.

Questions?

Call 816.691.5095 for details or email instructors Jill Sartain or Shanna Watt.