Two patients with neurologic issues find relief through boxing

When Liz Campochiaro of East Falmouth began to get a nagging and worsening headache in fall of 2013, she thought she had a sinus infection. But the headaches persisted, and eventually she went to the Falmouth Hospital Emergency Department, where a doctor ran a CT scan and gave her the devastating news: Campochiaro, then in her mid-50s, had a vestibular schwannoma brain tumor, which led to poor balance and chronic facial pain.

Jeff Crosby, a summer visitor to Falmouth from Bridgewater, NJ, noticed a tremor in his hand 10 years ago. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a slowly progressive, chronic neurologic condition that affects balance, among other issues.

Both Crosby and Campochiaro have a strong attitude about living life the best they can. But both also have found a lifeline in a boxing ring with Brian McCutcheon, a veteran boxer and certified boxing coach at Rocky’s Gym in East Falmouth. McCutcheon, who has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from his years as a sparring partner for prize fighters, is helping people with many types of injuries and health events, including stroke and traumatic brain injuries. He also teaches adults who want to improve strength and balance, and children who are building muscle and confidence.

Boxing improves balance and brain function, as well as physical strength, lung capacity and stamina, McCutcheon says.

“It’s good for any age. Boxing is so beneficial neurologically. You’re sending signals to four limbs to do four different things. The only exercise I know of that uses as many muscles as boxing is swimming,” he said. 

Boxing combines many different things that are good for the brain, said Dr. Emilio Melchionna, a neurologist with Cape Cod Healthcare in Hyannis. “Boxing does it all at once: strength, balance, rhythm, agility, cadence, coordination,” he said.

Being a social exercise, and high-intensity strength work to boot, also helps, he said. As boxers move from bag to bag, they’re gaining agility, strength and rhythm. Punching a bag builds strength and endurance. Some of his patients practice Rock Steady Boxing, a program that also helps patients with PD.

While high-intensity exercise isn’t a cure for PD, it reduces symptoms, Dr. Melchionna said. He advises all his PD patients to engage in exercise.

“Ninety minutes every day or every other day, work on your body.” After thoroughly researching boxing and speaking with patients, Dr. Melchionna is going to incorporate more boxing into his own exercise program.

McCutcheon’s Story

McCutcheon spent years in professional boxing in South Florida before moving to Falmouth. He found a welcoming space at Rocky’s Gym, where people from many walks of life gather for weight training, aerobic exercise and boxing. A second floor is dominated by a boxing ring, various bags and other equipment: This is McCutcheon’s territory.

The gym’s owner, Paul “Rocky” Rodriques opens his gym’s doors to anyone who needs help through physical workouts. When Rodriques isn’t running his gym or attending a granddaughter’s basketball game, he is often building community through charitable causes, including serving Christmas Day dinner (with hot showers on tap) to homeless Cape Codders. He and McCutcheon both live by the credo to do good.

Both Crosby and Campochiaro discovered McCutcheon’s boxing program by chance. Crosby, who has a high-pressure engineering job at a small company in New Jersey, works out as much as possible with McCutcheon when he is in Falmouth.

“Until recently, I didn’t have so many physical issues,” Crosby said. “But the disease has progressed. The minute I wake up, my legs, hands and arms start shaking.” He cut back his work schedule to part time. “I’ve always been a doer. I love my work; I love the people. But it’s very high pressure, and the tremors are getting worse.” (Crosby hopes to be part of a PD study at the University of Pennsylvania this year.)

Boxing takes Crosby’s mind off his body, which reduces the shaking and distracts him from some of the pain. “With meditation, I can make everything come to a grinding halt. But when I start thinking, the Parkinson’s starts.”

In the ring, McCutcheon has Crosby walk around the ring in boxer’s stance, holding the ropes and facing a full wall mirror. Then Crosby lets go of the ropes and walks the ring practicing basic boxing moves: the jab, undercut and hook. Then he stops in corners for squats and leg raises.

Big Help With Balance

Fatigue and pain are also factors for Campochiaro, who lives with chronic pain in her face from nerve damage. She had heard from a physical therapist that boxing could help. When she walked into Rocky’s with a friend to drop something off, the opportunity appeared right in front of her – McCutcheon took her straight to the ring. 

“I loved it; it’s so much fun,” says the retired certified nursing assistant. It’s not easy. “You have to work on so many things at the same time.” Today, she boxes for an hour three times a week. “Boxing is very effective for hearing loss and depth perception balance issues,” she said.

For both Campochiaro and Crosby, boxing has been a huge help in balance, depth perception, and focus. For Crosby especially, it is a break from intense pain. Both expect boxing to be a lifelong pursuit.

Campochiaro’s photo is hanging at Rocky’s, a testament to her grit. The photo shows her signing her name on the wall behind a speedbag, next to all the other names of boxers who have hit the bag 100 times in one minute or less. She laughs and says, “my main goal in life is to give Brian a bloody nose. He said ‘I’d be honored.’”