MC Kiwanis Club helping to fight Parkinson’s disease
Participants may be able to decrease the severity of PD symptoms, have less fear of falling down, perform daily activities better, climb stairs or get in and out of a vehicle more easily.
The Mayo Clinic describes Parkinson’s disease as a progressive movement disorder that affects the nervous system and many parts of the body, and any person can get it. Symptoms may include hand tremors, slowing of movement, and changes in facial expressions and speech.
One way people who have the disease may be helped is with an exercise routine and Rock Steady Boxing is one of them. That training, which takes about three hours weekly, may help people have less muscle stiffness and pain, and improve their balance and capacity for motion. People at all stages of Parkinson’s disease, or PD, may benefit. The motions and principles in boxing train the brain into better balance and coordination. Work in the pool helps some patients immensely.
There are afternoon and late afternoon-evening sessions — Fighting Back Against Parkinson’s — offered at the Macomb Family YMCA in downtown Mount Clemens led by personal trainer Mark Losinski. Six-week classes, two days per week, are $150 for members of the YMCA, and $200 for non-members.
The Mount Clemens Kiwanis Club donated $800 to the program after hearing a presentation about it, Kiwanian Theresa Randolph said. Losinski said service clubs like the Kiwanis, the Mount Clemens Lions Club, the Mount Clemens Rotary Club, and the Mount Clemens Optimist Club support YMCA programs in other ways. The Clinton Township Kiwanis Club is taking up the issue soon to lend support to Rock Steady’s efforts. Losinski welcomes the donations to cover “scholarships” for people who cannot afford to take the classes.
“Parkinson’s has to do with a lack of dopamine in the brain,” Losinski said. “As we age, we lose some of that over time. Some people lose it more quickly.”
Losinski says participants may be able to decrease the severity of PD symptoms, have less fear of falling down, perform daily activities better, climb stairs or get in and out of a vehicle more easily.
“It’s a non-contact activity,” Losinski said. “Boxing is a high-intensity exercise. When I call it out, they throw out a combined jab-cross-hook-uppercut. They get the audio piece of it. They share that to the brain and the brain translates it, and they process it. The hands move in the direction of what the combination is. It works the brain, the hands, the footwork, the whole nine yards. Sometimes I call it out by numbers; some people understand it better that way. The circuit of exercises helps with anything they might come in contact with in their daily lives.”
Some studies say such a program can slow the progression of the disease, improve or even reverse some symptoms.
The other component is working in a pool.
“That helps with balance, mobility, flexibility, buoyancy,” Losinski said.
People with the most advanced cases of PD can work with one-on-one assistance. Losinski spoke of working with one such individual.
“When I got him in the pool, he started walking like you or I, and his wife told me she hadn’t seen that in 20 years and she started crying. I was like, wow. When their physical therapist from Cottage Hospital called me, I thought she was going to rake me over the coals for something, but instead she said I heard you were in the pool with my patient. She wanted to know what did I do, because when he came to her for therapy he was doing much better. She said I should just keep it up. This is very rewarding,” he said.
The program currently has 10 participants. One is YMCA member Larry Flis, 78, of Clinton Township who was diagnosed with a movement disorder.
He was doing his regular exercise routine when he saw a flier on Rock Steady Boxing.
“After meeting with Mark Losinski I find out it is a very active program for us folks with Parkinson or PSP, Progressive Supra Neuro Palsy which I possibly do have as a result of exposure to
Agent Orange in Vietnam,” Flis said. “Mark tells me it is a great workout to keep our feet and arms moving and limber as well as have fun without hitting another person. In my opinion it is a great tiring workout for me.
“I have only done a few sessions and I love it. I’m beginning to notice a slight improvement in my balance as well as my coordination while doing the required exercises, and on Friday I get to put the boxing gloves on and dance — walk, for me — around these stand-alone bags and beat them up. It’s a great workout and I just can’t get over how many different exercises Mark has for us so there is not a lot of repeating. Soon we will venture into the pool there and do some different exercises. This is something I highly recommend for anyone interested to keep moving with Parkinson’s. This program was also recommended to me by the VA so I was excited to learn the YMCA offered it,” Flis said.
Losinski, 66, joined the Michigan Army National Guard at tail end of the Vietnam War in 1975, and also served in a military hospital unit in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, reaching the rank of colonel, and retired with more than 38 years of military service. He is a certified personal trainer, martial arts practitioner, and has a background in emergency medicine.
The Veterans Health Administration established six Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers around the country to do research and offer veterans clinical care and education. The Ann Arbor VA Medical Center is part of the National VA Parkinson’s Disease Consortium of providers with movement disorder expertise. The neurology department at the Detroit VAMC treats vets with movement disorders.
The VA offers veterans enrolled in the veterans healthcare system pharmacy benefits, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, medical equipment, surgical services, and other resources. Veterans can apply for disability benefits and learn about home modifications through any certified veterans service officer at congressionally chartered veterans service organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and others.
See ymcadetroit.org/programs/wellness/healthy-lifestyles/rock-steady-boxing for information about Rock Steady Boxing at the Macomb Family YMCA. Contact Losinski at 586876-3555 or call the Y at 586468-1411.
Parkinson’s support group meets in SH
The Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation’s Veterans With Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 2:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at DC3S, (Center for Collaboration and Synergy), 7205 Sterling Ponds Court, Sterling Heights. For more information, contact Nate Jolliff at 248464-3258 or natejolliff@comcast.net.
Service clubs serve up fish, Lions collect food
The Veterans of Foreign
Wars Bruce Post 1146’s Friday fish fry events are 4-8 p.m. March 1, 8, 15, 22 and on March 29 (Good Friday) at 28404 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores. Dinner fare includes cod, perch, shrimp, mac and cheese, chicken bites and hotdogs. Cod, perch and shrimp dinners include French fries, coleslaw, bread and butter, and dessert. Coffee is free; other beverages are available for purchase. Prices range from $2 to $15. Cash only; ATM available.
The VFW Menge Post 6756 at 25500 Sherwood St., Warren, holds fish fry events 3-8 p.m. Fridays through Good Friday. Menu includes cod, shrimp, perch, catfish, chicken strips, mac and cheese and potatoes. Prices range from $10 to $15.
The VFW Old Settlers Post 4659’s fish fry is every Friday in March from 4 to 7 p.m. The price is $12 for beer-battered cod, fried shrimp, French fries, coleslaw, dinner roll, cookie, fountain drink or coffee. The post is at 8311 Wilson St., Shelby Township.
The Washington Lions Club fish fry is 4:30-7 p.m. March 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 58000 Van Dyke Ave., Washington. The cost is $17 for adults and $9 for children 6-12- years-old. Choices include baked or fried fish, baked potato or French fries, mac and cheese, coleslaw, roll and butter, dessert and beverage.
The New Baltimore Lions
Club Winterfest goes on through Sunday in downtown New Baltimore. Bring nonperishables and baby care items for the St. Mary’s Food Pantry, or Kraft
Mac and Cheese Cups for the Anchor Bay Feed the Bay Backpack Program. Project KidSight takes place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. That is a one-second, free, noninvasive eye screening for very young children. Project KidSight is a Lions of Michigan Foundation program.