Special Training Needs

Regular exercise will help promote healthy joints by maintaining flexibility. Try to avoid impact exercises such as running and walking or using heavy weights because the added pressure and impact can cause damage.

A great alternative for pain and stiffness relief is to try low impact exercises like swimming, water aerobics or the slow, gentle and graceful art of Tai Chi to keep your joints loose and flexible without adding additional stress.

Tai Chi can improve flexibility, strengthen muscles, develop balance (reduce risk of falls) and improve range of motion. Additionally, Tai Chi is low impact and has a low risk of injury.

If you’re hypertensive, a regular exercise regime is recommended but caution is necessary.

Precautions:
(1) Have clearance from your doctor
(2) Progress slowly
(3) Breathe, breathe, breathe. This may seem obvious, but so many clients need to be constantly reminded to breathe properly. The golden rule for breathing when training is to exhale during the hard bit and inhale during the easy part. Typically, exhale when you execute a punch / kick or lift a weight and inhale when returning to starting position
(4) When in boxing / Muay Thai stance don’t over-clench your fists. Relax, relax, relax.
(5) Lifting maximum weights, performing isometric contractions (a static exercise such as pushing against a wall) and holding your breath can all result in an elevated blood pressure response and should be avoided.

Commonly, the aspects of the disease that I consider are balance, flexibility and thermosensitivity.

Balance
Impaired balance is common in those who have MS. The key consideration here is that individual should not change direction quickly.

Flexibility
Muscle spasms, which can result in muscle fibre shortening and pain, are not uncommon in MS. As such, a stretching program is recommended to help ease any pain and lengthen out fibres.

Thermosensitivity
Heat sensitivity can be problematic and must be considered when scheduling the time of day to exercise. Other considerations are maintaining adequate hydration and wearing loose-fitting clothing and breathable fabrics.

Boxing is fantastic for developing good balance. When in boxing stance, weight should be evenly distributed on both feet such that the centre of gravity passes through the belly button. Doing such can help to realign one’s sense of balance. Without good balance, a boxer cannot strike and defend effectively.

We know that physiotherapy and medication can slow the progression of MS and it’s my hope that boxing training via the concept of neuroplasticity will do likewise. In order words, this type of training may help to maintain old connections and create new connections in the brain. Boxing really forces your brain to think and react in concert with your body. There’s an art to it that most people don’t realise. And hopefully, each punch and combination will force or induce the brain to “talk” just that little bit more to the nerves and this will keep the lines of nervous transmission and communication open for just that little bit longer and act as defense against an inner enemy that is attacking and assaulting the nerves. Surely, anything we can do to potentially slow down the course of the disease has to be a good thing.

You can work up a sweat and reap the enormous rewards of the mental benefits and satisfy that fighting spirit.

Wikihow says it so well…

“People who use wheelchairs have the same needs as everyone else. They need social interaction, rigorous physical activity, and a healthy sense of self-worth. The sport of boxing can help satisfy those needs. With the right training, a person who uses a wheelchair can get the exercise their bodies require and the confidence they need to succeed in all aspects of life.”

I so agree. Everyone deserves to live happy and successful lives, so give yourself or your son or daugher a whole new lease of life and start working the pads like a boss.