Skip to main content

Rock Steady.

 The beauty of a blog” It's basically an online diary, right? As I scroll through my previous blog posts, I cannot help but be reminded how quickly things can change.  I mean our world flipped upside down in 2020.  Everything was basically cancelled.  People we loved were put on ventilators.  Our country was divided in ways I know I never imagined.  Holidays and birthdays were celebrated over Zoom as if that was normal?  And that was just in 2020.  

In my opinion, many aspects of people's lives were put into perspective.  
In the two years since my last blog, my life took a flip as well.  I have changed my career path, fallen out of love, fell in love, lost close friendships I thought would last a lifetime and gained new ones that hopefully will. However, if one thing has stayed steady, it has been my diagnosis.  Now I do not know if that is necessarily a good or bad thing.  The one thing I know for certain is that if it was not for my diagnosis, I would not have accomplished and experienced half of what I have today.  I am the person I am today because of my condition.  

My hope is that whoever reads this can identify with some part of my story.  
Currently my life is very different than it was when I began this story on Tremor Chat.  I am no longer alone on this journey though.  I have my partner in crime, my partner in work and life, Eric.  Yes, we are Eric and Erika.  Both trainers and coaches for our fitness company and running a program called Rock Steady Boxing (RSB).
 
I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career.  It wasn't until I discovered my love of fitness and in turn bodybuilding and the benefit it had on me and my tremors that I discovered what I wanted to do in life.  I wanted to combine my passion for fitness and the desire to create awareness/support for people affected with movement conditions.  

Rock Steady Boxing is a program that offers individuals the opportunity to "fight back with fitness" for a better quality of life. Rock Steady Boxing is geared toward individuals with Parkinson's.  It was created in 2006 in Indianapolis, IN.  Eric, who has extensive experience with MS, spinal cord injury patients, Parkinson's, and the general public, combined with me-- we have dreams of much more.  


The benefits of participating in a program like ours are endless, the "neuro-protective" aspect is so vital especially for Parkinson's patients but truly for anyone.  Studies done through the Cleveland Clinic along with multiple Universities have proven RSB can slow the progression of Parkinson's symptoms.  Rock Steady Boxing is not your ordinary fitness class.   You will not truly understand the benefits unless you witness or experience it for yourself. 
Interested in a Rock Steady Boxing class?





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Essential Tremors: Bodybuilding

M ore than 200,000 people are diagnosed with Essential Tremors each year. Essential Tremor, also known as ET, has no known cause yet is the most common movement disorder. ET is distinct from but often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, although some patients do have both conditions.  ET and Parkinson’s patients can both benefit positively by the integration of physical activity into their daily routines.     I recently came across a research study that studied the effects of strength training on individuals with Essential Tremors.  Their goal was to see if when ET patients incorporated just a seemingly minimal amount of training into their weekly routine, could it help their symptoms of essential tremor?’ These symptoms they defined as dexterity and reduction of their tremor . The exercises included bicep curls, wrists flex and wrist extensions.  All done with dumbbells and on both the most affected and least affected limb. Th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Deep Brain Stimulation: Have you ever considered it?

Have you ever considered Deep Brain Stimulation? That question threw me for a loop this past week during my most recent Neurologist appointment.  I have been asked this question by a handful of people but I hadn’t paid much thought to it until this week Deep brain stimulation. DBS. Brain Surgery. Drilling into my brain.  “A Brain Pacemaker.” Neurostimulator. Neurosurgeon. Electrodes. Just a very small handful of the thoughts running through my brain over this past week. The definition of Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure involving the placement of a medical device called a neurostimulator (often referred to as a brain pacemaker) which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to a specific targets in the brain for the treatment of various movement disorders.  Heavy stuff, right? Average female in their mid/late twenties isn’t weighing the Pros and Cons of brain surgery.  But hey, I am definitely not someone ...
Post a Comment
Read more

There's a difference.

Parkinson’s versus Essential Tremors: similar in some regards but extremely different.   I currently serve on the board for a local grassroots nonprofit here in Louisville--The Parkinson Support Center.   I highly recommend them if you need a resource for anything related to Parkinson’s.   The purpose of this blog will to be compare and contrast the two conditions.   I often find that when individuals begin to tremor, especially at the typical onset age, it is very easy to jump to the conclusion one has Parkinson’s Disease.   It is important to remember that every case is different, there is no hard and fast rule.   Once you notice any tremor at all you should go see your primary care physician who should then refer to a neurologist, preferably one who specializes in movement disorders.   I always recommend a second and third opinion, if possible.   Essential Tremor Parkinson’s Disease         ...
Post a Comment
Read more