Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Department

Brain Health

First Committee Member

Sharon Jalene

Number of Pages

68

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this capstone project was to explore the lived experiences of 10 women with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who participate in the Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) program, an exercise community-based non-contact boxing program. Because women remain underrepresented in PD research and exercise-based interventions, this project aims to better understand how women perceive the physical, emotional, and social impacts of participating in RSB.

Methods: This qualitative case series included 10 women diagnosed with PD that participate in RSB at the Tony Cress Training Center. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews and audio recordings. Interviews were consented, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis, allowing themes to emerge directly from the data without predetermined categories.

Findings: Participants that participated in individual semi-structured interviews described a combination of physical, emotional, and social benefits from participating in RSB. Themes were developed following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase method, which were then refined into categories into the following themes: reclaiming control and identity, community and belonging, gendered experiences, and perception of outcomes. Participants shared insights into detail on how the RSB program environment has influenced their identity, anxieties, motivation, and perceptions of well-being.

Conclusion: This capstone project provides meaningful contributions to the limited body of research, focusing specifically on women with PD. By empowering women’s voices, findings may support clinicians, community fitness providers, caregivers, and occupational therapists (OTs) in developing more inclusive, gender-informed approaches for physical activity (PA), exercise, and community-based programs. The outcomes highlighted the importance of belonging, empowerment, comradery, physicality, and accessible wellness opportunities for women navigating life with PD.

Keywords

Exercise Program; Parkinson's disease; Rock Steady Boxing; Women

Disciplines

Gender and Sexuality | Occupational Therapy | Women's Studies

File Format

PDF

File Size

1053 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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