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, 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e getting fitter, I含羞草研究社檓 getting worse.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l give you some of my pills,含羞草研究社� 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 Parkinson含羞草研究社檚, which is a neurodegenerative disease that affects movement. What that含羞草研究社檚 meant for Browning is stiff muscles, poor balance and a hoarse voice.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a sneaky disease,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淵ou can have it for 10 years and not know it. It kind of sneaks up on you real slow.含羞草研究社�

He含羞草研究社檚 not a boxing fan 含羞草研究社� his interest began and ended with Muhammad Ali, who also suffered from Parkinson含羞草研究社檚. But, after reading online that the sport could help restore movement in people with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚, Browning showed up on Pineiro含羞草研究社檚 doorstep.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not so much into the boxing. It含羞草研究社檚 the exercises that I含羞草研究社檓 after,含羞草研究社� said Browning.

A 2011 published in Physical Therapy showed boxing training can benefit people living with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚, but Pineiro hadn含羞草研究社檛 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 Parkinson含羞草研究社檚.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e not really training boxing, we含羞草研究社檙e training Parkinson含羞草研究社檚,含羞草研究社� said Pineiro, who said the disease is forcing Browning含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚f we repeat it over and over and over again, the big motions that (Browning) doesn含羞草研究社檛 do in his everyday life or he does less and less, we含羞草研究社檙e hoping to turn back the clock a little on Parkinson含羞草研究社檚.含羞草研究社�

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 Browning含羞草研究社檚 reaction time.

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 something you can live with and you can last a long time,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淢ichael J. Fox has lasted a long time. He got it when he was 29. 含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 something you can tolerate but it含羞草研究社檚 a pain in the neck.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淭wenty years ago I could have done it,含羞草研究社� says Browning, to which Pineiro replies, 含羞草研究社淭his thing含羞草研究社檚 a time machine.含羞草研究社�

Browning completes two pushups. The next time he visits, the pair agree, he含羞草研究社檒l do three.

tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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