Famed Boxer Kicks Off 1st Parkinson’s Rehab Program In Suffolk

CENTER MORICHES, NY — A Hall of Fame boxer who's seen glory in the ring gave back in a big way recently: Michael Spinks helped to kick off the first Parkinson’s rehab program in Suffolk County.

Oasis Rehabilitation and Nursing, located on Frowein Road in Center Moriches, has opened a subacute Parkinson’s Diseases rehabilitation program, providing individualized physical, occupational, and speech therapies, exercise groups, including a Parkinson’s boxing class, to enhance rehab and education and resources to facilitate a safe return to the community for those with the disease.

Oasis welcomed world champion boxer Spinks, who sparred with participants, to lead the first boxing class.

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination, Oasis said. Every year, about 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's. Parkinson's-specific boxing classes have proven to increased strength, improve hand-eye coordination and posture, relieve symptoms for soft-voice disorders, improve balance, agility, and reaction time — and give patients better cognitive processing, Oasis said.

“The Parkinson’s Program at Oasis Rehabilitation and Nursing is designed to help patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s and other movement-related disorders get a more personalized and exclusive treatment plan,” said Shari Gessner, program coordinator. “It is our goal to maximize function and quality of life in individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease.”

Also offered will be a Parkinson-specific exercise boxing class and support groups for both patients and caregivers held by clinicians trained in specific Parkinson’s disease treatment interventions.

Gessner is a certified coach in a Parkinson’s boxing technique; the program’s boxing class uses boxing gloves and other modified equipment.

“Through my 15 years of experience teaching Parkinson’s boxing, I have seen a remarkable improvement in patient’s Parkinson’s symptoms,” she said. “I am excited to be bringing this exercise therapy to the patients here at Oasis Rehab and Nursing.”

The Parkinson’s Program’s mission is to assist patients embrace compensatory strategies to overcome some of the physical symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease and learn how to effectively manage their disease, Oasis said. Caregivers in the support group will learn about new research, as well as how to socialize with other caregivers who share some of the same daily challenges.

The virtual support group is held on the second Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at Oasis Rehabilitation and Nursing.