Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to die leading to impaired movement, balance, speaking abilities and more.The disease can’t be cured, but its progress can be slowed. X3 Sports in Athens offers one pathway to a higher quality of life for those affected by Parkinson’s disease in the form of boxing classes.
Maura Cartwright, a coach at X3 Sports, says the class was started in 2015 at a former location on Baxter Street. Patients from a neurological center across the street suggested that they start a class catered to Parkinson’s patients. Cartwright started working with the class in 2020 and has been running the program since.
“It turns out that boxing is one of the best things you can do for people with Parkinson’s,” Cartwright said. “It’s not a cure, but it’s a way to combat the symptoms.”
X3 Sports trainer Maura Cartwright (white) trains with Mike Green (blue) during a Knockout Parkinson’s Disease (KOPD) boxing session at X3 Sports in Athens, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. KOPD is “A 45-minute boxing-driven workout designed to combat the systems of Parkinson’s Disease.” (Photo/Ethan Greene; @the.greene.camera)
The class involves punching mitts, punching bags and some strength and agility training. Cartwright said this helps with Parkinson’s disease because a part of the disease is a lack of dopamine in the brain, and the exercises in the class help to boost dopamine, create neural pathways and develop mind-muscle connections. In addition to the typical activities, Cartwright is constantly communicating with her class to add activities that will be most beneficial to Parkinson’s patients.
“I have one of my clients that, on Instagram, he’ll just shoot me over like, ‘Hey, people are doing this. Hey, people are doing this. Think about this,’” Cartwright said. “Anything new that I can bring … it’s always good to have something fresh.”
This communication doesn’t go unappreciated by Cartwright’s clients. Jane Keene, a client at X3 Sports, said that Cartwright is enthusiastic and able to adapt.
“We have a fantastic coach,” Carol Gendron, another client at X3 Sports, said.
Keene said that even though Parkinson’s never gets better, she has maintained her physical abilities since starting the class.
“It uses your brain and your body at the same time, and it’s enthusiastic. It’s a good support group, and it’s a good workout,” Keene said.
Keene and Gendron say that exercises like slamming down medicine balls and hitting the bags as hard as they can not only helps with Parkinson’s disease but are also enjoyable. Gendron said that she also likes the community aspect of the classes.
“If you are doing a sequence, say, on the bag, and you suddenly just screw it up, you don’t have to be embarrassed,” Gendron said. “They’ve had the same experience.”
Keene also appreciates the community aspect of the classes.
“You look people in the eye and know they understand what you’re going through, and the fear that you have about the future, and we’re all in it together,” Keene said.
Cartwright says that after five years of coaching the class, she has seen a lot of different ways in how client’s Parkinson’s disease has progressed. The progression of Parkinson’s is unavoidable, but she has seen firsthand the positive effects the class has had on clients.
“I also will get feedback from them that they go to see their doctor and their medicine, their dosage is lessened because what they’re doing is helping them so much,” Cartwright said.
This news item came from: https://www.redandblack.com/athensnews/x3-sports-fights-parkinson-s-disease/article_2e9f688a-eba8-11ef-9117-83c5c6362cfc.html
