One of my favorite things about my Parkinson’s bootcamps and boxing classes is knowing that my fighters are maintaining their fullest life with Parkinson’s. This includes travel. Families want to travel while the person with Parkinson’s can still get around well. Navigating cobblestone walkways, narrow, steep stairs, and ungroomed trails are always a concern for people with balance issues.
I was so pleased when my fighter Wayne came to class and told me a great story about a trip he took. He said that they were walking in a group of people without Parkinson’s. Some of the people fell, but he didn’t, because of the balance training we do in class! I asked Wayne to put it in writing and send me some pictures so that I could share it.
“Kimberly,
Thanks to you and Rock Steady Boxing fitness training, my wife and I were able to spend nine days in the Galapagos. The trip was all about seeing the wildlife in their natural habitat. The trip required hiking over lava rocks and sand, as well as climbing in and out of Zodiac boats. I feel certain that we would not have been able to go if it were not for the instruction and conditioning in your classes”.
Regards, Wayne P.
Age 80. Parkinson Disease for 10 years.
“My wife Jan and I are on the left. This photo was taken just before we started a hike in a lava tube. The hard hats were to protect your head from hitting the ceiling in the low areas. They also recommended that everybody use a walking stick as well due to the uneven floor of the tube. At least one person fell on this hike. It was poorly lit, and we all carried flashlights to help us find our way over the rocky uneven floor of the lava tube. Thank goodness for the hard hats, since I banged it against the ceiling several times because I was looking down at the path for the least slippery surface to place my feet”.
Falling is high on the list of greatest fears as we get older. Why? Because it can lead to catastrophic results. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
The main goal in our classes is to improve balance and avoid falls. We put people in situations that they might encounter in the real world. A world full of curbs, uneven ground, distractions, and different types of obstacles of all sizes. We feel that if we make it just as challenging in class, then when people want to travel they’ll be prepared for just about anything that life has to offer.
Don’t settle for the safety of a chair when you want to live life to the fullest. Keep moving! Seek out professionals who will challenge you safely and keep you in the game. Be like Wayne and Jan… live your life!
💜 Coach Kimberly
Are you interested in improving your balance and avoiding falls? Try one of Kimberly Berg’s exercise classes and feel the difference. Schedule your evaluation today to get started.
And keep an eye out for Kimberly’s upcoming blog posts. She has more great travel tips to share! Be sure to subscribe at www.kimberlyberg.net.
Resource List:
ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the…/falls-prevention-facts/