Boxing, exercise helps those living with Parkinson’s disease

• Aniya Faulcon
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  Aniya Faulcon is The Spark Host/Producer for WITF. She has a passion for shining a light on unique people, experiences, and perspectives within the community.
  
  Previously she worked as the People and Social Trends Reporter/Video Anchor for LancasterOnline | LNPNews. During her time there, she created video packages, provided Facebook Live coverage at community events, and wrote data-driven stories with census data and feature stories on local leaders, non-profit organizations, events, and people with unique talents and experiences within Lancaster County.
  
  Aniya also worked at WMAR ABC 2 News as a Sales Assistant and at the AFRO American Newspapers as an Executive Assistant and Media correspondent. Aniya interned at WEAA Gospel Grace 88.9 and worked at her alma mater’s radio station, WWPJ at Point Park University, where she gained skills and a passion for radio.
  
  Aniya grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the Baltimore School for the arts for high school with a concentration in acting. She continued to hone her skills and passion for storytelling and later graduated from Point Park University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Broadcast Reporting. Aniya is eager to continue her journey with storytelling in her role with WITF, as she aims to shed a light on real people and real stories within Pennsylvania in a variety of mediums.

 Sue Ludwig

People living with Parkinson's disease boxing at Crush PD Fitness.

Airdate: November 09, 2022

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year and there are about one million people who live with Parkinson’s disease within the United States.

But local fitness companies like Crush PD Fitness and Rock Steady Boxing Lancaster are working with people with Parkinson’s disease to fight for health and a better quality of life.

Dr. Sol De Jesus, neurologist at Penn State Health, said Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impacting movement or mobility, usually effecting individuals sixty-five and older. Some of the Parkinson’s disease symptoms are slowness of movement, stiffness in muscles, tremors and difficulty with walking and balance.

She said, medication, healthy diet, sleep, and exercise can act as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Dave Haught, Crushed PD Fitness class member said, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in December of 2019 he decided he wasn’t going to take the disease lying down.

Haught, who is referred to as a fighter at his gym, dealt with side effects of Parkinson’s disease medications and symptoms like tremors but is determined to keep a positive attitude.

“I’ve just made a commitment since I was diagnosed that I was going to do all I could to be positive about it. That’s part of the fight is to keep a positive attitude,” Haught said.

Susan Ludwig, Owner of Crushed PD Fitness and former trainee with Rock Steady Boxing said, her fitness companies help people living with Parkinson’s disease by provide supportive groups, strengthening their balance, helping with mobility issues, improving their overall health and slowing down the progression of the disease.

“If I would have one takeaway for people out there that are being diagnosed or have the disease, this is something that you can live with,” Haught said. “It takes some dedication and some thought but it is certainly something that you can live with and have a healthy life with the disease.”