By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Meadowlark is bringing a program to Junction City to help people with Parkinson’s Disease.

Michelle Haub, Parkinson’s Program Coordinator at Meadowlark, said there are many people in the region affected by Parkinson’s. “We have a lot of individuals affected by Parkinson’s in this region. and coming to Manhattan is really hard. So we want to provide opportunities for individuals to learn and grow and live better qualities of life here in Junction City.”

The program will be offered at the Junction City Athletic Center, 935 East 4th Street,  beginning in May. There will be a Parkinson’s Education Group session at the center on Thursday, April 11th from 2-3:30 p.m. “This is an opportunity to come if you have the disease, if you have someone that you’re providing care for or if you just want to learn more about Parkinson’s Disease. ”

You will be able to learn how to cope or help someone else with the disease. A medical advisor and social worker will be present for the session.

In addition to medication, exercise can help in dealing with Parkinson’s. Rock Steady Boxing will be part of the program. Haub explained that’s where the Junction City Athletic Training Center factors in to the mix. Rock Steady Boxing has been done in Manhattan. Haub stated, “We’ve just seen amazing results with this boxing program. It’s geared and designed specifically those symptoms of Parkinson’s. So helping to address the stooped posture, the slow movement, the small gait, the quiet voice, all of those things are targeted in these boxing classes.  And so exercise is huge.”

The Rock Steady boxing classes will be offered once per week beginning in May at the Junction City Athletic Training Center. To participate in the program you must go through an evaluation so your medical background is, what needs to be watched or could put you at risk for doing a specific type of exercise. Once those who are interested have completed that step participants can then begin attending classes.