Parkinson's disease symptoms shown to be reduced by forced pedaling on a stationary bicycle at a rapid cadence (80-90 RPMs).
Forced stationary bicycle pedaling therapy at a high steady cadence (RPM) has recently been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Dr. Jay Alberts, a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, in a paper presented in Paris, June 15, 2009, reported that Parkinsons disease patients, who were forced to pedal at a high steady rate (80-90 RPM) showed a 35% improvement in motor function.
Dr. Aberts is currently using a electric motorized mini cycle to force Parkinson's patients to pedal at a high cadence. The patients pedaling rate is approximately 30% greater than their preferred rate.
Brain scans (seen on ABC news) of Parkinson's patients in Dr. Alberts' study showed increased brain activation similar to treatment with the common Parkinson's disease medication levodopa. Animal studies in Parkinsonian rodents found forced exercise showed similar improvement in motor function.
The two critical elements of this treatment are high cadence and forced pedaling. Parkinson's patients normally pedal at 40 to 60 RPM. The researchers forced the patients to pedal at a sustained rate of 80-90 RPM for 40 minutes, three days a week. The results were very impressive, Dr. Alberts reported a 35% improvement in patient motor function.
Other questions to be answered in the current studies using stationary motorized bicycles include optimum RPMs, duration of exercise period and frequency (exercise sessions per week). Our experience has been positive using an inexpensive mini motorized cycles at home spinning at 60 to 70+ RPMs for time periods of 15 to 40 minutes and 2 to 6 times a week. Not very scientific but it works.
Physical therapy and exercise is well documented as a positive treatment for Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is an insidious progressive disease with no cure on the horizon but if sitting at home and spinning our legs on a motorized stationary cycle improves our condition why not-is it to good to be true? Check out this low cost motorized cycle.
Therapy-Cycle.com
LINKS TO PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND CYCLING THERAPY VIDEOS
LINKS TO PARKINSONS DISEASE VIDEOS
INFORMATIVE ARTICLES ON PEDALING THERAPY AND PARKINSON'S DISEASE
INFORMATIVE ARTICLES ON EXERCISE AND PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Your Home for Parkinson's Disease Cycling Therapy Information and News.
Bicycling and Parkinson's Disease
New Link to an amazing video from the Netherlands in the New England Journal of Medicine showing a severely affected Parkinson's patient who is unable to walk but can ride a bicycle for miles, unassisted.
Also, video and article in the New York Times
