Movement is Medicine for Individuals with Parkinson’s

Movement is medicine, especially for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s presents daily challenges that affect mobility, balance, coordination, and confidence, often limiting participation in everyday activities. While medication plays an important role in symptom management, it does not fully address the physical, cognitive, and emotional impacts of the disease. Because of this, many of our managed centers offer Rock Steady Boxing, a specialized program designed to help individuals with Parkinson’s stay active, build confidence, and improve quality of life through purposeful movement.

Demonstrating That Movement Is Medicine

The concept that movement is medicine refers to the intentional use of physical activity as a therapeutic tool to prevent, manage, and improve chronic disease. For individuals with Parkinson’s, consistent exercise has been shown to help improve balance and mobility, enhance cognitive function, and support emotional wellbeing.

Powering Medical Fitness

Power Wellness supports programs like Rock Steady Boxing through evidence-based design, staff training, and comprehensive operational guidance. This structure allows our managed centers to deliver effective medical fitness programming that meets the highest safety standards and is aligned with community health goals. By integrating the idea that movement is medicine into programs like Rock Steady Boxing, Power Wellness helps centers expand beyond traditional fitness to support chronic disease management and improve quality of life.

Fighting Back Through Movement

Rock Steady Boxing is a non-contact, boxing-based, medical fitness program designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. Led by a certified fitness specialist, the program focuses on boxing and strength-based exercise to help improve coordination, balance, posture, mobility, and more. Rock Steady Boxing supports safer, more confident movement and reinforces that movement is medicine both inside and outside the fitness center.

Building Community and Confidence

At ProHealth West Wood Health & Fitness Center, Rock Steady Boxing has been running for over a year and a half and continues to grow. Beyond physical benefits, the program reinforces that movement is medicine by creating a supportive community where participants motivate and encourage one another through shared experiences. For many participants, Rock Steady Boxing is one of the few spaces where they can move freely, challenge themselves, and feel fully understood by others facing the same condition. Despite living with a progressive disease, these boxers consistently demonstrate positivity and resilience.

Fitness Manager Madeline Goetsch shares, “Head coaching Rock Steady Boxing is the highlight of my week every week. These boxers face unique hardships, but they are the most positive, light-hearted members who set foot in our building. Class is all about meeting them where they are today and continuing to fight back together.”