Rock Steady Boxing brings hope to those living with Parkinson’s Disease
In 2021 during the Covid pandemic, Scott “Coach” Stoner from Butler High School, opened Legacy Fitness to give his youth wrestlers a club to help them continue with their wrestling and fitness goals.
Later, he and his partner, Katie Werner, a local fitness instructor, wanted to grow the organization with youth and adult programming as well as an Adapted Needs program, giving the entire Butler community a place to come and stay fit.
“When you have a passion,” Coach Stoner said, “you should reach for it. And that’s what we’re doing here. Not only for ourselves, but for everyone who attends.”
In 2023, Werner brought the Rock Steady Boxing Program into the mix. The programs gives it’s participants renewed hope in their journey towards better health and well-being, with a curriculum that is recognized by the Parkinson’s Foundation as an Accredited Exercise Education Program.
“I want to help the people who were told they couldn’t do it,” Werner said. Those with Parkinson’s often experience slowness, rigidity and balance issues. The program is designed to push participants out of their perceived limits of ability, and is proven to help people maintain a higher level of function over time.
Throughout class, Werner can be heard shouting instructions over the beat of loud music. She provides encouragement through a fun, but “tough love” approach, inspiring maximum effort, speed, strength, balance and flexibility. “The music is important for their brain development,” she said, helping their focus. “I keep it loud so that I have to shout and they have to shout back at me. The more they shout or speak loudly, the more they are strengthening their voice box and the muscles around it,” she said, which helps with challenges of chewing and swallowing, and helps prevent aspiration when they eat. Aspiration on food can often lead to pneumonia, which can lead to a whole new set of challenges.
During the punching bag drills, she shouts instructions to hit various combinations of numbers they are to hit with different punch types. Participants not only have to remember the combinations but the punch style, while also counting their repetitions. This, Werner says, helps make a cognitive/physical connection, while also developing better balance.
In addition, the non-contact sparring and associated footwork enhances coordination and agility, while the proper stance work improves postural control which helps reduce fall risks.
“What I love most about this class is that Katie helps me adapt to what I can do,” one participant said. She explained that months ago she had a fall, and now uses a cane, so she is unable to stand to do the drills. “But my goal through my physical therapy and this class is to get back on my feet someday soon.”
“I only started coming here to make my wife get off my back,” another participant joked. “I told her I would try it out for one month. Once I saw what it was doing for me, I never left.” He even has a favorite punching bag that he uses that he lovingly calls “Katie.”
During the one-hour class, many of the spouses stay to observe. This gives them not only a brief break from their caretaking, but also a chance to talk about their struggles and successes while helping their loved one.
“Rock Steady has so many emotional benefits, too,” Werner said. “Everyone comes here looking to have some fun, but what they find is hope.” Engaging in the boxing activities alleviates the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. It releases endorphins for happiness and relaxation, while improving cognitive function and providing a sense of empowerment and achievement, helping participants unlock a better quality of life than they thought possible.
Southwestern Pennsylvania has been identified as the second largest hotspot for incidences of Parkinson’s Disease in the United States in part, because of the larger aging population. But in addition, there is a history of heavy industrial manufacturing, which exposed many residents to environmental factors that are associated with an increased risk for Parkinson’s Disease.
Werner is committed to spreading the word about the Rock Steady program and it’s benefits, so that she can provide hope to even more people living with this debilitating disease for which there is no cure. She works with the Western PA Parkinson’s Foundation to educate the community on the importance and benefits of the program. She recently presented at the AGH Movement and Disorders conference.
Werner credits the Legacy Fitness staff and volunteers for helping her spread the word of the gym’s programming. These include Joyce Williams, head trainer, who has approximately 10 years experience teaching the Rock Steady program, and Danielle Dickey, certified personal trainer and Rock Steady coach. They, along with 2 long-term volunteers, Werner said, “are critical in helping Legacy Fitness and the Rock Steady program branch out into the community.”
Legacy Fitness also offers a student volunteer partnership with Slippery Rock University giving students in the Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Exercise Sciences the opportunity to come and gain needed volunteer hours and get hands-on experience.
“No matter who you are,” Coach Stoner added, “your biggest opponent is yourself. You’re going to have failures, but everyone benefits from a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness, and these fighters are no different.” But most importantly, he said, his program participants benefit from the camaraderie and socialization they get at Legacy. “We’ve become a family, and that has more value than any money I could put in your checking account.”
