Taking a swing at Parkinson’s

The familiar “thump, thump, thump” of boxing gloves on bags mixes with “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five in a small room at the Lawton YMCA.

“Thirty seconds,” says John Veal, the trainer of Rock Steady Boxing in Lawton and the Health, Wellness and Sports director of the YMCA.

The group of four, sometimes more, rotates around the room to different bags and exercises. Lunges, planks, boxing and weights all contribute to the routine.

“I wanted to be able to move,” said Virginia Heffernan. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor in 2015, though she began noticing her symptoms in 2004.

“I’ve done very well. Mine has been a slow progression, in large part thanks to boxing I think,” she said.

Heffernan began boxing soon after the Lawton branch of Rock Steady Boxing was formed and has been a student in the class ever since.

According to the website, Rock Steady Boxing was founded in 2006 by Scott C. Newman after his Parkinson’s diagnosis. A similar story is found in Lawton.

The local group formed in 2018, after Rob Rooker, another student in the class, approached Veal. Rooker had been researching ways to battle his Parkinson’s, as he was about to be moved into the third of five stages of the disease.

“Rob came to me and said ‘we need this,’” said Veal. Shortly thereafter, he went to Indianapolis, Ind., to the headquarters of Rock Steady Boxing, and became certified to teach the class.

Rob, who began the class in 2018 with the use of a cane, now walks solely under his own power.

“I’ve actually got my Parkinson’s progressing backwards, I’m back in stage two,” he said. “I’m better now than when she [his neurologist] first saw me.”

The classes, designed by Veal, are able to be modified for all stages of the disease.

“It’s one of the best things for getting your balance and strength back,” said Heffernan.

While regaining of strength is rarer, exercise such as boxing is important to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

“You either use it or lose it,” said Rooker.

Rock Steady Boxing meets at the YMCA in Lawton Tuesdays and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class requires membership at the YMCA, the cost of which begins at $35 for seniors per month and $44 per month for adults 64 years and younger.