Date of Award
2-10-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Charles Romney
Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system due to a lack of the neurotransmitter, dopamine. There are many potential symptoms, the most common involve movement, balance, walking, twitching, rigidity, and speech. There is no cure but there are numerous treatments for the symptoms which often have serious side effects. Rigorous exercise has been found to delay and, in some cases, reverse the severity of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. One of the more successful exercise programs is Rock Steady Boxing, which was established in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2006 and currently has over 700 affiliated programs worldwide. In 2018 the First Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas established a Rock Steady Boxing affiliated program. It is the only program in a faith based institution and the only program that relies on volunteers. It can handle many more participants than the other programs and the almost one to one ratio of volunteers to participants has generated a strong camaraderie.
Recommended Citation
White, Michael Alan, "We Are Rock Steady: Fighting Together Against Parkinson’s Disease (An Oral History of the First Six Months of the Rock Steady Boxing Program at the First Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas)" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 1116.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/1116
