Only half of Albertans diagnosed get specialized care they need: Parkinson Association
Global News
The Parkinson Association of Alberta says the movement disorders program clinics in the province don't have the capacity to see all patients who are diagnosed as they progress.
Monty Schnieder is new to boxing. The 72-year-old Calgary man donned the gloves to take on the biggest fight of his life against Parkinson’s disease.
The symptoms started off with shuffling, sleep problems and his speech changed — to the point where his wife could barely hear him.
“She thought she was losing her hearing and it was actually me not speaking loud enough to project,” said Schnieder, a retired production manager with Theatre Calgary.
The neurologist who diagnosed Schneider gave him the number for the Parkinson Association of Alberta, which connected him to boxing.
“I was like a terrier dog. I jumped onto it and grabbed it and started off doing two days a week of boxing, three days a week of power moves,” Schnieder said.
The boxing and regular exercise helps with mobility. Schnieder does voice exercises too with the Parkinson Voice Project.
“You put the two together and it almost makes it like I’m a normal person,” said Schnieder with a laugh.
The neurological disorder causes unintended stiffness, shakiness and difficulty with coordination, and worsens over time.