Jesse Pineiro needed to take a breath between exercises.

The Nelson Boxing Club coach gestured to his student, a 79-year-old man who had gingerly taken a seat nearby, and said, B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e getting fitter, IB次元官网网址檓 getting worse.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l give you some of my pills,B次元官网网址� quipped Bob Browning.

Browning has been training at the gym, twice a week for about three months. Five years ago soreness in his arm led to ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚, which is a neurodegenerative disease that affects movement. What thatB次元官网网址檚 meant for Browning is stiff muscles, poor balance and a hoarse voice.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a sneaky disease,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou can have it for 10 years and not know it. It kind of sneaks up on you real slow.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 not a boxing fan B次元官网网址� his interest began and ended with Muhammad Ali, who also suffered from ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚. But, after reading online that the sport could help restore movement in people with ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚, Browning showed up on PineiroB次元官网网址檚 doorstep.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not so much into the boxing. ItB次元官网网址檚 the exercises that IB次元官网网址檓 after,B次元官网网址� said Browning.

A 2011 published in Physical Therapy showed boxing training can benefit people living with ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚, but Pineiro hadnB次元官网网址檛 previously had experience working with the disease. While with Team B.C. in Salmon Arm, Pineiro consulted with coach Peggy Maerz, who trains groups of people suffering from ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not really training boxing, weB次元官网网址檙e training ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚,B次元官网网址� said Pineiro, who said the disease is forcing BrowningB次元官网网址檚 movements and balance to fold in. The exercises, therefore, are focused on getting Browning to open up with exaggerated motions in his hands and feet while standing tall.

B次元官网网址淚f we repeat it over and over and over again, the big motions that (Browning) doesnB次元官网网址檛 do in his everyday life or he does less and less, weB次元官网网址檙e hoping to turn back the clock a little on ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚.B次元官网网址�

On this day, Pineiro and Browning began their hour-long workout by passing a soccer ball to get Browning moving his legs. Pineiro also had Browning move clockwise around a square while throwing punches, and used traditional boxing equipment like a speed bag to stimulate BrowningB次元官网网址檚 reaction time.

Browning hopes all this work pays off in little improvements to his daily life with the disease.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something you can live with and you can last a long time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢ichael J. Fox has lasted a long time. He got it when he was 29. B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 something you can tolerate but itB次元官网网址檚 a pain in the neck.B次元官网网址�

At one point, Pineiro pulls out a mat and asks Browning to try five pushups.

B次元官网网址淭wenty years ago I could have done it,B次元官网网址� says Browning, to which Pineiro replies, B次元官网网址淭his thingB次元官网网址檚 a time machine.B次元官网网址�

Browning completes two pushups. The next time he visits, the pair agree, heB次元官网网址檒l do three.

tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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