A Qualitative Phenomenological Exploration of the Experiences of Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease Engaged in a Boxing Program

Authors

Bradley MacCosham, University of OttawaFollow
Evan Webb, University of Ottawa
Jessica Oey, University of Ottawa
Francois Gravelle, University of Ottawa

Abstract

Boxing has emerged as a beneficial form of physical activity (PA) for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Research typically emphasizes the physical benefits of boxing for individuals with PD but neglects other aspects that could promote long-term engagement in such programs. This study qualitatively explored the experiences of individuals with PD who are engaged in a boxing program. A qualitative phenomenological methodology was utilized. Twelve participants took part in a semi-structured interview. Data were thematically analyzed. Analysis revealed that participants experienced a variety of physical, social, and psychological aspects. Findings suggest that participants perceived increases in physical abilities and concentration through prolonged engagement in the program and social support upon recently joining the program. Other themes were also uncovered such as coming out of isolation, relatedness, escapism, and sense of accomplishment. The knowledge generated from this study can be valuable for health professionals seeking to design and implement specialized PA programs to improve the health of individuals with PD.

Keywords

Parkinson’s Disease, Boxing, Physical Activity, Qualitative

Author Bio(s)

Bradley MacCosham is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Ottawa in the Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Human Kinetics. H completed both his Bachelors degree and Master's degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: bmacc067@uottawa.ca.

Evan Webb is an instructor at Brock University.

Jessica Oey is a master’s student at the University of Ottawa.

François Gravelle is an Associate professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa.

Publication Date

7-4-2019

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3570

Recommended APA Citation

MacCosham, B., Webb, E., Oey, J., & Gravelle, F. (2019). A Qualitative Phenomenological Exploration of the Experiences of Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease Engaged in a Boxing Program. The Qualitative Report, 24(6), 1460-1477. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3570