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Dr. Jay Alberts and Dr. Angela Ridgel are currently using motorized exercize cycles to study forced exercise in Parkinson's disease patients.
In his original study, with ten participants, Dr. Alberts used tandem bicycles (two seats) that forced the patient to pedal as fast as his training partner (80-90 RPM). The results were impressive, an average 35% reduction in symptoms when compared to the control group who pedaled at their own pace (40-60 RPM). Tandem bicycling is not practical for laboratory studies or for most Parkinson’s patients. Dr. Alberts' current study, involving 150 participants, employs a motorized American exercise bicycle, the Theracycle that spins at 80-90 RPM. Dr. Ridgel is using a customized German bike.

“First we had study participants perform a basic fitness test,” Dr. Angela Ridgel explained to the Saturday Evening Post. “Then they came for sessions at 60, 70, or 80 rpm, and we compared their ability to move between each workout. This is passive exercise—we asked them not to help, but to let the motor do the work. We’re analyzing the data right now, but really seems as if we are getting an effect.”

“The goal of our current research is not to make specific recommendations,” she concludes. “Of course, exercise is good for everyone. For people with Parkinson’s who want to exercise by cycling, I suggest lightening the resistance and maximizing the speed of their leg movement. Having Parkinson’s makes it somewhat more tricky for them, but that is what I’m suggesting to people who ask me.”





Motorized mini exercise cycle for home therapy
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