Boxing magnificent, boxing clever

Magnificent

 

• "Never feel sorry for me" •
Reflections on Muhammad Ali by some who knew him well.

Clever

In this footage from 1991, the cringe-making tone taken by the interviewer is in clear contrast to Muhammad Ali’s response, full of humour, dignity, and thoughtfulness. I look forward to listening to it enough times to be able to decipher the words before his final riposte: “Got ya!”

And the rest of us?

There are creative initiatives around, some of which can be found on • show|me|the|access • website, like these • Rock Steady Boxing • fitness classes which use boxing techniques in the context of Parkinson’s to improve confidence and physical well being. More submissions always welcome (hint).

"IN THIS CORNER, HOPE"

It puts me in mind of a chap I saw the other day who had taken up amateur boxing very briefly in his youth, in the East End of London. Now in his late 80s, he too has Parkinson’s, alongside other diagnoses, and is in hospital, but because of the clinicians’ difficulties in understanding his speech, his care is in danger of not being as responsive as it might be. His fluctuating condition means he has been moved a number of times in the last weeks, with each move resulting in a different set of people involved in his care. When it was suggested that a microphone could be used to help facilitate communication the clinician readily went to fetch a microphone and headset but instead of putting the microphone on the patient, whose voice is very quiet because of the Parkinson's, the headset was put on the patient and the clinician spoke into the microphone. Yes, the patient was able to hear the clinician a bit better than before, but it didn't help the clinician to hear the patient's response.

Everyone plays a role

There is, as this • article from Parkinson's Disease Foundation • says, “…no one-size-fits-all solution for improving communication in PD. The key is to be flexible, creative, and to shift or combine strategies as needed as the disease progresses and communication needs change. It is also important to remember that everyone involved in the conversation plays a role in its success, and in allowing people with PD to be heard.”

For me it underlines the assumption that no matter how up-to-date the training is (this was a very bright, caring young lady) a clinician’s voice is always deemed more important than that of the patient.

We are all aware of the degree of infantilisation of elderly disabled people inbuilt certainly into British culture – probably a global phenomenon – but it should be strongly resisted in favour of facilitating communication so that traumatised patients don't simply lose heart. Not everyone is known for having been able to “sting like a bee” as Ali famously was (though watch out for the low mutterings of "I aintn't dead yet"). It serves everyone well to remember the strength of character, determination and resourcefulness it takes to live life with as much independence as impairment will allow. Credit must be given to that person for the capacity to take their own decisions. Not until sufficient effort has been made to enable good communication should decisions be made on someone’s behalf. It seems appropriate to include here a link to a pdf format report by an all party parliamentary group (be aware, it comes with a content warning) • “Inquiry Into Access To Communication Support For People With MND” •

So don’t just sit there!

I also have to question the unconscious use of restraint by furniture. It may be deliberately done to keep someone from putting themselves at risk, but even this can be no excuse for leaving a body immobile for five hours at a stretch. Avoid bed sores of course, but ensure it doesn't render him or her incapable of doing the most basic • foot raising exercises • while they have the opportunity.

There is probably a name for the law that states that higher the level of training, the more it displaces rather than augments common sense. Perhaps someone could let me know in a comment?