COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) — Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. Symptoms can include slowed movements, stiff muscles, altered posture and balance, and loss of automatic movements.

Knowing all of this, that’s why Cindy Conte is hosting a boxing and exercise program especially for people with Parkinson’s at Rock Steady Boxing at College station.

Rock Steady Boxing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, brings hope to people with Parkinson’s disease by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing-based fitness program .

“My husband had Parkinson’s disease and he heard about this program,” Conte said. “It’s an international program and he said ‘Cindy, we’re going to bring this to College Station as a nonprofit’ and so the rest is history.”

The local program was launched four years ago and now has more than 20 participants who meet three times a week and train with experts and volunteer trainers.

“Strengthening the core of the body is very important and of course falls are a big problem for people with Parkinson’s so we want to work on balance. We do a lot of finger work. You can lose strength, and we do voice work and want to strengthen the core,” Conte said.

“She takes care of the fighters in the gymnasium, with the help of volunteers, while the families have time to relax and de-stress without worrying about their loved ones. Cindy is attentive to the feelings that are being processed, offering help, suggestions and support to all,” said Judy Swenson, who nominated Conte for the Be Remarkable award.

“She is a passionate champion of the PM community and we believe she deserves this award,” said Diane Schulien, who also nominated Conte for the award. Schulien’s father has Parkinson’s disease and participates in the program.

“I doubt my father would still be here if it weren’t for the Parkinson’s group. It’s the camaraderie of this group of people that keeps him moving and motivated,” Schulien said.

According to Rock Steady Boxing, “Various studies in the 1980s and 1990s supported the idea that rigorous exercise, emphasizing gross motor skills, balance, core strength and rhythm, could have a favorable impact on range of motion. movement, flexibility, posture, gait and activities of daily living. More recent studies, notably at the Cleveland Clinic, focus on the concept of “forced” intense exercise and have begun to suggest that certain types of exercise may be neuroprotective, i.e. slow progression of the disease.

It’s all KBTX and Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers is proud to present Cindy Conte with this week’s Be Remarkable Award.

If you have someone you would like to nominate for our Be Remarkable campaign Click here! Be Remarkable airs on News 3 at 6 p.m. every other Monday and is proudly sponsored and made possible by Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers.

Copyright 2022 KBTX. All rights reserved.