  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.
