| One of the areas that Parkinson's Disease | | | | hour a day on a tandem bike, three days a week |
| research is actively pursuing due to a huge body | | | | the symptoms improved about 35%, and went |
| of anecdotal evidence is that regular exercise | | | | away if the exercise stopped. What the tandem |
| helps the Parkinson's patient slow down the | | | | bike does is allow the non Parkinson's rider to be |
| progress of symptoms or helps mask the | | | | in front and force the speed to be higher than the |
| symptoms. The number one recommendation | | | | Parkinson's patient would do on their own. A |
| from neurologists to their patients is to exercise. | | | | current study that Dr. Alberts and The Cleveland |
| So looking at home exercise equipment like a | | | | Clinic are involved in is using a motorized |
| Schwinn recumbent bike as well as walking, and | | | | Theracycle. |
| getting involved in an exercise classes are all | | | | So, how does this answer the question about |
| definitely something worthwhile for any | | | | whether a Parkinson's patient should buy a |
| Parkinson's patient to look into. This article looks | | | | Schwinn recumbent bike? Well, it tells us first that |
| into some of the current research on the use of | | | | any exercise it good, but to make the symptoms |
| exercise bikes. | | | | improve at the 35% levels you have to get up to |
| Parkinson's Disease is often referred to as a | | | | 80-90 RPMs. In the initial clinical trials it was harder |
| movement disorder. It has no cure. It is a | | | | for Parkinson's patients to get up there on their |
| neurological condition that affects the dopamine | | | | own, and needed the second person on a tandem |
| your brain needs. It gradually breaks down and | | | | bike to drive up the RPMs. If you have an |
| causes stiffness or a slowing down of what used | | | | exercise bike that you can set it to move at the |
| to be easy normal every day activities. There are | | | | 80-90RPMs on its own, or with a second person |
| as many variations of the disease as there are | | | | there to urge you own, without you wanting to |
| people. Many develop tremors, most have a | | | | swat them one, then buying that bike whether it |
| stooped over postures and shuffle like walk. | | | | is upright or recumbent will help improve |
| Some will have their voice muscles gradually | | | | symptoms. |
| weaken. Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox are | | | | However, any exercise is better than no exercise |
| two well known patients who are pretty far along | | | | for a Parkinson's patient. Buying something like a |
| in the disease progression. The Michael J Fox | | | | Schwinn recumbent bike will give both the patient |
| Foundation is committed to funding all sorts of | | | | and caregiver a chance to get a good aerobic |
| research in institutions all over the country. | | | | workout. Patients in the earlier stages where the |
| Substantiating the effects of exercise is one of | | | | symptoms are not so obvious may be able to |
| many areas they currently fund. | | | | get the RPMs up there. Meanwhile keep your |
| In July of 2008, Dr. Jay Alberts, a researcher at | | | | eyes and ears open for the results of the |
| the Cleveland Clinic, has published his findings on | | | | motorized bike study, talk to your trainer at a |
| the advantages of tandem biking and Parkinson's | | | | gym and see what advice they have to help get |
| Disease. Initially they found that by riding for one | | | | those RPMs up to the optimal level. |