Effects of an Acute Boxing Session on Muscle Activity in Persons with Parkinson's Disease

Purpose: This study assessed the acute effects of a boxing session on upper extremity muscle activity in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Materials and Methods: Electromyography was used to assess upper extremity muscle activity in ten people with PD, fourteen healthy older adults, and twelve healthy younger adults during elbow flexion and extension at fast and self-paced movement before and after an acute boxing session. Results: Results showed a significant difference in peak to offset time in the triceps brachii during fast movement (F(1)=8.181, p=0.009) and both peak amplitude (F(1)=4.587, p=0.042) in the triceps brachii and peak to offset time (F(1)=4.256, p=0.018) in the biceps brachii during self-paced movement from before to after the boxing session for all three groups. No differences between groups were revealed. Conclusions: Triceps brachii muscle activity improved after an acute session of boxing, regardless of age or disease. Thus, people with PD may show similar benefits from boxing as healthy populations. Additional research should be conducted to further determine the efficacy of long-term boxing programs for people with PD, as well as how changes in triceps brachii muscle activity relate to functional outcomes.