Neuropsychological Effects of Rock Steady Boxing in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Comprehensive Analysis

This study investigates the efficacy of adapted boxing, specifically Rock Steady Boxing, in mitigating dopamine decline in individuals with Parkinson disease. The research involved 40 participants with confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson disease who underwent biweekly RSB sessions over an 8 week period. Training regimen included activation, core exercise, and a cooldown phase. The findings revealed a significant amelioration in depressive symptoms through the sessions. Assessment using the Beck Depression Inventory demonstrated a progressive decrease in scores associated with depressive symptoms, particularly affective, cognitive, and somatic symptoms. The reduction in more severe symptoms was accompanied by an increase in milder symptoms. Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of the reduction in depressive symptoms over time, suggesting that physical activity, particularly RSB, may contribute to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with Parkinson disease. The positive impact was observed in both motor and depressive symptoms, suggesting an overall beneficial effect of exercise training. It is important to note that six participants withdrew from the study due to organizational reasons, resulting in a reduction in the participant count from 40 to 34. Nonetheless, the overall results suggest that RSB could be an effective approach to addressing depression in Parkinson patients, providing a complementary treatment option to conventional pharmacological therapy.