anxiety reduction and boxing
In order to perform a heart transplant, a surgeon must
perform a sternotomy on the patient. Sternotomy involves
making an incision in the patient’s sternum that enables
the surgeon to divide or “crack” the sternum to allow
access to the heart and lungs. Heart transplant patients
frequently experienced increased levels of anxiety related
to fears of increasing physical activity post-surgery and
experiencing complications during recovery.
Researchers associated with the Cardiac Rehab program at
Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital co nducted
a study involving three heart transplant patients, two male
and one female. The study’s goal was to measure anxiety
outcomes on these patients before and after participation
in a boxing exercise program. Researchers used the
cardiac anxiety questionnaire (CAQ) before and after
participation in the four-day boxing exercise program.
Day one of the carefully designed boxing exercise
program focused on instructing patients on boxing
techniques, footwork, punching (jab, cross and uppercut),
and proper breathing. Keep Your Move In The Tube™
guidelines were followed to select punching exercises. This
mindful movement model avoids strain on the sternum.
During the remaining three boxing exercise sessions,
patients boxed for three, two-minute rounds. Each
round consisted of 30 seconds each of jabs, jab-jab-cross
combination, uppercuts, and the jab-cross combination.
Between each round, patients rested a minimum of two
minutes. Blood pressure, rate of perceived exertion, and
heart rate were recorded after each round.
In this corner, at 67 years of age and weighing 92 pounds
is Tarulata Patel. If anyone had told her that she’ d be
boxing to strengthen her heart, she wouldn’t have believed
him or her. But, that’s exactly what she is doing as a
cardiac rehab patient at the Baylor Hamilton Heart and
Vascular Hospital.
Faced with a weakened heart as a result of congestive heart
failure, Patel relies on an implanted left-ventricular assist
device (LVAD) connected to a bulky external battery pack
that helps pump blood to her heart. Rey Perez, Patel’s
boxing instructor at Baylor Tom Landry Health and
Wellness Center, designed a boxing workout that not only
allows her to get a full-body workout, but also helps her
focus on her cardiovascular health. Patel practices her hook
and jab three times a week during her sessions with Perez
as a cardiac rehab patient.
“Boxing helps her regain balance and strength to be able
to carry the heavy battery pack around,” explains Perez.
“Part of my role includes educating on the science of boxing
and the proper techniques, so that patients like Tarulata
can perform the workout routine at home without the need
for boxing equipment.”
Patel’s son, Parth, is by her side at every boxing session.
He helps her exercise and motivates her physically and
mentally and thinks of himself as his mother’s personal
cheerleader.
What does Patel think of her boxing sessions? “Boxing helps
me gain more strength, muscle and better health,” she says.
Study participants experienced an overall anxiety score
decrease from (mean+SD) 37.67+6.81 to 30.33+7.51,
resulting in a p-value of 0.0371. Researchers concluded
that the use of a boxing exercise program in a cardiac
rehab setting is a unique and nontraditional method for
helping heart transplant patients reduce their anxiety.
TARULATA PATEL’S STORY
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