Underwater boxing: Parkinson’s patients make a splash

A boxing fitness programme for people with Parkinson’s disease has gone from the ring to the pool

A pioneering underwater exercise class for people with Parkinson’s called ‘UH20 Boxing’ is being offered by a charitable non-profit organisation based in New Jersey, US.

Taking place at the Randolph YMCA, the new aquatic programme utilises submersible boxing bags, underwater treadmills and exercise bikes. The programme aims to help participants exercise without fear of falling and injuring themselves. Other specialised exercise equipment includes balance beams and underwater trampolines.

Kathy Fisher, aquatics and program house operations director at the Randolph YMCA, told the Daily Record: “We’re able to take our boxers and put them in the pool and give them a totally different component of exercise that we can’t give them on land.

“Balance is a really big issue for people with Parkinson’s so there’s this fear of falling. But in the pool you don’t fall. The worst thing that can happen is you get wet. It takes all the fear away so you’re able to push them to the next level, to really work on balance and use the properties of water and resistance.”

The Randolph YMCA also offers the Rock Steady Boxing workout, the non-contact boxing programme designed exclusively for people with Parkinson’s.

For more information on classes visit the Randolph YMCA website

This article was corrected on 6 February