Going for knockout in fight against Parkinson's

(WCAX)
Published: Sep. 7, 2018 at 6:51 AM EDT
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The boxers at Rock Steady Gym in Lyndonville are training to fight a rival that's undefeated. Their opponent -- Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s plays out in several ways including tremors, rigidity, and loss of movement. All of these symptoms make it hard for someone to do regular chores. Right now there is no cure, and it's degenerative. That means symptoms get progressively worse over time.

“It’s a tough disease. Everyone has a different story, everyone has a different opinions about it,” said Bob Szumita, a participant in the program.

The 77-year-old Szumita was diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago. He, along with about 12 other people, come to the gym twice a week.

“You don't know what it is until you have it. You don't know how frustrating it is, you can’t do a darn thing anymore,” Szumita said.

That's why they train. It helps give them mobility and control of their body. Because the disease is degenerative, health officials say exercise is the best way to slow down side effects.

Three months in and Szumita says he already has better balance and brags about being able to stand on one foot.

His trainer is former New England Golden Glove champ, Joe Allard. Allard says boxing combines many different movements including balance, agility, speed and power. He says Parkinson's takes that away from people and boxing gives it back.

“It involves forced intense movement of the muscles,” Allard said. “You find people getting better on their footwork, balance gets better and it’s really a cool things to see.”

Szumita's wife, Peg, agrees. She's been by her husband's side since the beginning of his journey with the disease and is the one who encouraged him to start boxing.

“I think his self-image is better... which is happier for me,” she said.

The group is using an individual sport to build up a network of support.