害羞草研究所

Skip to content

VIDEO: 79-year-old B.C. man fights Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 with boxing

Bob Browning on sparring with the disease

Jesse Pineiro needed to take a breath between exercises.

The Nelson Boxing Club coach gestured to his student, a 79-year-old man who had gingerly taken a seat nearby, and said, 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e getting fitter, I害羞草研究所檓 getting worse.害羞草研究所

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l give you some of my pills,害羞草研究所 quipped Bob Browning.

Browning has been training at the gym, twice a week for about three months. Five years ago soreness in his arm led to Parkinson害羞草研究所檚, which is a neurodegenerative disease that affects movement. What that害羞草研究所檚 meant for Browning is stiff muscles, poor balance and a hoarse voice.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a sneaky disease,害羞草研究所 he said. 害羞草研究所淵ou can have it for 10 years and not know it. It kind of sneaks up on you real slow.害羞草研究所

He害羞草研究所檚 not a boxing fan 害羞草研究所 his interest began and ended with Muhammad Ali, who also suffered from Parkinson害羞草研究所檚. But, after reading online that the sport could help restore movement in people with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚, Browning showed up on Pineiro害羞草研究所檚 doorstep.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not so much into the boxing. It害羞草研究所檚 the exercises that I害羞草研究所檓 after,害羞草研究所 said Browning.

A 2011 published in Physical Therapy showed boxing training can benefit people living with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚, but Pineiro hadn害羞草研究所檛 previously had experience working with the disease. While with Team B.C. in Salmon Arm, Pineiro consulted with coach Peggy Maerz, who trains groups of people suffering from Parkinson害羞草研究所檚.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not really training boxing, we害羞草研究所檙e training Parkinson害羞草研究所檚,害羞草研究所 said Pineiro, who said the disease is forcing Browning害羞草研究所檚 movements and balance to fold in. The exercises, therefore, are focused on getting Browning to open up with exaggerated motions in his hands and feet while standing tall.

害羞草研究所淚f we repeat it over and over and over again, the big motions that (Browning) doesn害羞草研究所檛 do in his everyday life or he does less and less, we害羞草研究所檙e hoping to turn back the clock a little on Parkinson害羞草研究所檚.害羞草研究所

On this day, Pineiro and Browning began their hour-long workout by passing a soccer ball to get Browning moving his legs. Pineiro also had Browning move clockwise around a square while throwing punches, and used traditional boxing equipment like a speed bag to stimulate Browning害羞草研究所檚 reaction time.

Browning hopes all this work pays off in little improvements to his daily life with the disease.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 something you can live with and you can last a long time,害羞草研究所 he said. 害羞草研究所淢ichael J. Fox has lasted a long time. He got it when he was 29. 害羞草研究所 It害羞草研究所檚 something you can tolerate but it害羞草研究所檚 a pain in the neck.害羞草研究所

At one point, Pineiro pulls out a mat and asks Browning to try five pushups.

害羞草研究所淭wenty years ago I could have done it,害羞草研究所 says Browning, to which Pineiro replies, 害羞草研究所淭his thing害羞草研究所檚 a time machine.害羞草研究所

Browning completes two pushups. The next time he visits, the pair agree, he害羞草研究所檒l do three.



tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

11444703_web1_180413-KWS-Browning2
Bob Browning, 79, was diagnosed with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 five years ago. Photo: Tyler Harper
11444703_web1_copy_180413-KWS-Browning1
Bob Browning, seen here training with Jesse Pineiro, is using boxing exercises to help him live with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease. Photo: Tyler Harper


Tyler Harper

About the Author: Tyler Harper

I害羞草研究所檓 editor-reporter at the Nelson Star, where I害羞草研究所檝e worked since 2015.
Read more



(or

害羞草研究所

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }