ACTIVE-ASSISTED CYCLING improves tremor and bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease.

[Thal]

Objectives: To develop a rapid cadence cycling intervention (active-assisted cycling [AAC]) using a motorized bike and to examine physiological perimeters during these sessions in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). A secondary goal was to examine whether a single session of AAC at a high cadence would promote improvements in tremor and bradykinesia similar to the on medication state.

Design: Before-after pilot trial with cross-over.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Participants: Individuals with idiopathic PD (N=10, age 45-74y) in Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3.

Intervention: Forty minutes of AAC.

Main outcome measures: Heart rate, pedaling power, and rating of perceived exertion were recorded before, during, and after a bout of AAC. Functional assessments included tremor score during resting, postural, and kinetic tremor.

Results: This AAC paradigm was well tolerated by individuals with PD without excessive fatigue, and most participants showed improvements in tremor and bradykinesia immediately after a single bout of cycling.

Conclusions: This paradigm could be used to examine changes in motor function in individuals with PD after bouts of high-intensity exercise

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/226...

[Boscoejean]

more information about how this was done with 10 patients

Active-Assisted Cycling Improves Tremor and Bradykinesia in Parkinson's Disease

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[Mimi828]

I have one of these and I have used it faithfully everyday for the past 7 years or so and it works.

[Thal in reply to Mimi828]

Don't want to be without so ordered a backup.

[jeffreyn]

Was the pictured bike the type used in the clinical trial?

What prevents it from moving around when you pedal fast?

[Thal in reply to jeffreyn]

Don't know. I have mine screwed down to small sheet of plywood.

[jeffreyn in reply to Thal]

Thanks. If your chair sits on the plywood, that should keep everything stable.

[CuriousMe12]

CThe important part is Conclusions: This paradigm could be used to examine changes in motor function in individuals with PD after bouts of high-intensity exercise.

I'd suggest a non power assìsted static bike might have a similar effect, or any high intensity exercise.

[JayPwP in reply to CuriousMe12]

It seems that only forced exercise gives better results than voluntary exercise. That's where these motor assisted devices come into play. The theracycle is one example. Tandem bike is another

youtu.be/PNYKIMrIsG8?si=S0C...(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/uYeuM7vhHkc?si=gUu...(Not working as expected?)

[NextStage in reply to JayPwP]

If you are fit enough, you can achieve the forced exercise effect by making yourself pedal faster than you feel comfortable, getting your heartrate up.

[JayPwP in reply to NextStage]

That would still fall under the voluntary category.

I remember reading a related mouse study where they gave electric jolts when the mouse slowed down. It had better results on all Parkinson parameters

[CuriousMe12 in reply to JayPwP]

I'd like to read the study detail. Small sample? Assessments of fitness and motivation of each group? He says the non forced group were left to do their thing . The forced group were pushed beyond 90 rpm. My tàkeaway is that forced exercise may be better than voluntary for unmotivated or more pd affected pwp.

[PixelPaul]

Exercise is good for people with PD. Didn't we already know this?

[Pixelpixie]

doesn’t say at what cadence benefit is seen. 90 RPM? Duration?

[blackbear701 in reply to Pixelpixie]

I've seen that you should do 80-95 rpms for 40 minutes. First do a warm-up at 50 rpms, and do the same for a cool-down. I have a spin bike in my spare room and that is what I've been doing for the past 3.5 years. I watch something on my tablet while I am biking to make the time pass more quickly.

[Mimi828 in reply to Pixelpixie]

I believe it’s 65 rpm’s

[JayPwP]

nature.com/articles/s41531-...

[enjoy2013]

Do you have rthis bike, the Motomed Viva 2? In the paper, they mention the device was modified. Is your device also modified? Thank you

[jeffreyn]

Some discussion about Forced Exercise and PD, in a thread from a couple of years ago:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...