is walking or cycling better 4 pd any answers

[ftadh]

parkinsons community

[ronn]

My only recent bicycling experience has been with a stationary reciprocal bike that occupies space in my bedroom. My wife uses it as transitional storage for items of clothing enroute to or from her closet. I won't bore you with details but I chose to walk, developed Plantar faciitis, and am now trying to fight off the Parkinson's shuffle. Given the choice however, I would again choose walking but would try to plan a better program.

[Jash]

Either-- as the Nike logo says--Just do it!" I've seen a Physical Therapist who has a neurology specialty and she advises continuing motion along with visual exercises to activate other neurotransmitters

[JAYNIE]

I am now working with a wonderful gal who is a physical therapist in Tucson,specializing with Parky's. and she is coming out to my house south of Tucson, to our work out gym, and she has me doing floor exercises and riding two different types of bikes......everything I read and talk to people about say................ don't sit, use it............use it to what you are capable of doing. and build from there, but do it !!!! if you shuffle, shuffle and do it............ keep moving. don't let that ole parky thing catch up with you......

[dbean in reply to JAYNIE]

I have Pd diagnosed 6 years ago, I belong to a boxing exercise group which is spreading across the country.I spend 1/12 hours three times per week in active workout and various exercise. We do box but do not hit each other we use heavy bags etc. The progress others and myself have made is fantastic, not only the physical but the support we have with people of like problems. check out the web site you will be impressed Rocksteadyboxing.org Keep exercising it really helps

[hilarypeta]

Im afraid of losing balance on a bike but would love to cycle again! I use stationary bike which gets boring..walking all the time ..keep walking even if you have to push yourself..i go out several times a day and im not taking any meds...

[rch21]

I would do both , but emphasize whichever one you can get the best cardio exercise from. doing both gives the benefit of working some muscles that the other does not - I run and race walk and they both use different muscles in the legs and hips. But most important is get the cardio benefit.

[maidar]

Just "do it" is right! I miss my biking more than anything! I used to go 20 miles 3 times per wek but now my balance is so off that I only go on my spinning bike in the basement!

I can't walk far because my toes curl so....!

Good luck with whatever form of exercise you choose!

[sistadred]

I just mostly walk, I have a bike that I will see if I can still ride. I think I'm scared to fall off of it. Tomorrow I'm going to biking for PD at the Y in downtown Seattle. I'm trying to get some cardio exercise in. I can't run because of a knee replacement and the PD. My motto is you gotta move it, move it. My therapists' father worked with people with PD and she said that he said if you don't move you'll end up in a wheel chair.Some days are harder than others and then there are those days when you're just PARKED UP ( my saying for a bad day with PD) and you just can't do it, but if you can move do it.

Remember that song that was popular last summer? I can't recall the name but the course was

Everyday I'm shuffling, shuffling

That's my mantra and I'm happy that I can do it.

[srarndt]

Depends, r u looking 4 cardio or PD benefit or both...

If u r looking for cardio, then check your heart condition with your doc and once you have their blessing be all over chosen cardio exercise like white on rice! Doesn't matter so much which, just that u do it.

If best for PD is what u want then I would also take up Tai Chi or Chi Gung. Both have reputedly shown a measureable PD improvement.

Whatever u do keep active, and involved, like a dog with a bone!!!

[quirkyme]

I got my husband a metronome to up his pace when we walk. We are just starting to use it on slow speeds.

It helps cue the brain + muscles. This was recommended by PT at Boston University. They are doing research on exercise to maintain functions.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Ftadh

Walking is the best, unless you are unable to do it. Walking is a weight-bearing exercise and it strengthens the bones as well as the muscles. Walking also requires a lot more brain involvement and that brain involvement produces GDNF (Glial Derived Neurotrophic Factor). This is the body's own repair kit. It repairs the damaged brain cells. The ideal exercise period is 3, one-hour sessions a week, with a day in-between each session. That gives the muscles time to recover. If you walk every day, you will damage your muscles and get no extra benefir from it. Ask me, I know! Cycling is good for us, but does not have the same benefit. Don't try to start by walking one hour at the very beginning, you will do youself a lot of harm. If you are fit, you might try walking ten minutes every second day, to begin with and build it up be five more minutes every second week. When I say walking, I mean almost as fast as you are able. If you don't exert yourself, you will not get the same benefit. Don't be impatient! You will be amazed at how fast you will feel the benefit. I am not a doctor, I have been suffering from Pd for the last 50 years. I was only diagnosed in 1992, but the first symptoms started in 1963. I now live a normal life and do not need to take any Pd medication. It took 29 years, after my first sypmtom started, until the doctors were able to diagnose the Pd. It was the exercise, I think, that slowed down the progression of the Pd. When I started taking an MAO-b inhibitor, in 1992, and continued the exercise, I started getting better. I am not cured, but I am as well as anybody else at the age of 78. Good luck!

John

[ftadh in reply to JohnPepper]

tank u johnpepper for d information i am walking or cycling everyday so prob am doin too much i just findd cycling faster as my feet ache a lot lately which i tink is due to standing in wk i am 11 tabs a day which i would luv to get off im 52 dx feb 2012

[JohnPepper in reply to ftadh]

Hi ftadh.

You should not do the same exercise each day. Your muscled need a day to recover, otherwise they eat themselves up. We don't need that. Try the walking, but you must have good shoes. I find that I am able to walk through the pain in my feet, but have to take anti-infalamatories when the pain gets too much.

John

[dbean]

I hope my input is read, the exercise I share with others has been wonderful. about 150 people with PD benefit from this program

[FifteenyearsPD]

Treadmill is great because you are forced to walk evenly .... Esp if one side of your body is affected more than other, I was diagnosed more than 17 years ago and continued to use treadmill .. Not as much as I used to but still get on it most days for 10 to 20 min. Varies with stiffness s

[FifteenyearsPD]

Treadmill is great because you are forced to walk evenly .... Esp if one side of your body is affected more than other, I was diagnosed more than 17 years ago and continued to use treadmill .. Not as much as I used to but still get on it most days for 10 to 20 min. Varies with stiffness s

[satwar]

I go for a brisk 1 hour walk every day, and I push until I'm breaking a sweat. After a 15-20 minute cool down I enjoy 2-4 hours of no Parkinson's symptoms (mainly right side tremor). I haven't kept good notes on this aspect of my Parkinson's symptoms but I believe the duration of relief from symptoms has been gradually increasing.

[mdh-michael]

I prefer to jump rope as long as I still can.. every two days..

I have PD since 5 years and I have not given up on me.. not yet.

Micky from Poland