Boxing training for patients with Parkinson disease: a case series
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A nontraditional form of exercise recently applied for patients with Parkinson disease (PD) is boxing training. The primary purpose of this case series is to describe the effects of disease severity and duration of boxing training (short term and long term) on changes in balance, mobility, and quality of life for patients with mild or moderate to severe PD. The feasibility and safety of the boxing training program also were assessed. CASE DESCRIPTION: Six patients with idiopathic PD attended 24 to 36 boxing training sessions for 12 weeks, with the option of continuing the training for an additional 24 weeks (a seventh patient attended sessions for only 4 weeks). The 90-minute sessions included boxing drills and traditional stretching, strengthening, and endurance exercises. Outcomes were tested at the baseline and after 12, 24, and 36 weeks of boxing sessions (12-, 24-, and 36-week tests). The outcome measures were the Functional Reach Test, Berg Balance Scale, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, Timed "Up & Go" Test, Six-Minute Walk Test, gait speed, cadence, stride length, step width, activities of daily living and motor examination subscales of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, and Parkinson Disease Quality of Life Scale. OUTCOMES: Six patients completed all phases of the case series, showed improvements on at least 5 of the 12 outcome measures over the baseline at the 12-week test, and showed continued improvements at the 24- and 36-week tests. Patients with mild PD typically showed improvements earlier than those with moderate to severe PD. DISCUSSION: Despite the progressive nature of PD, the patients in this case series showed short-term and long-term improvements in balance, gait, activities of daily living, and quality of life after the boxing training program. A longer duration of training was necessary for patients with moderate to severe PD to show maximal training outcomes. The boxing training program was feasible and safe for these patients with PD.
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Boxing studies have shown improvement in balance and gait in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
“Finally, studies using boxing have also shown improvement in balance and gait in individuals with PD.”
From Exercise-enhanced neuroplasticity targeting motor and cognitive circuitry in Parkinson's disease (2013) · cites this paper as [20]
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Exercise-enhanced neuroplasticity targeting motor and cognitive circuitry in Parkinson's disease
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- Authors
- Combs, S. A., Diehl, M. D., Staples, W. H., Conn, L., Davis, K., Lewis, N., & Schaneman, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Indianapolis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Combs, Stephanie A.
- ORCID
- Staples, William H.
- Venue
- Physical Therapy
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2011-01-01
- Volume
- 91
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 132-142
- ISSN
- 0031-9023 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-6724
- OpenAlex
- W2171508746
- Cited by
- 135
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 4.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physical Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
- Keywords
- Parkinson's disease, boxing training, exercise therapy, balance, gait, mobility (physical function), quality of life, disease severity, training duration, feasibility and safety, activities of daily living
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Boxing, Postural Balance, Exercise Therapy, Female, Gait, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Treatment Outcome
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