Parkinson’s disease patients may benefit from tandem cycling: study

fitness

by tracy swartz

This fitness routine is aimed at people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers.

People suffering from degenerative brain disorders and those who help them may benefit from riding a two-seater stationary bike. discovered in a new small study.

“Our research shows that a unique cycling program that pairs people with Parkinson’s disease with their care partners improves the physical, emotional, and mental health of both cyclists,” said Jennifer Tolik of the University of South Carolina. “We have discovered that it can improve the quality of life.” Greenville School of Medicine; stated in a statement.

Nine people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners cycled on indoor tandem bikes twice a week for eight weeks while using a virtual reality platform that showed them beautiful outdoor views.

Both volunteers completed testing before and after completing the program.

People with Parkinson’s disease were asked about how often they experience daily difficulties with relationships, communication, and social situations.

Physical examinations measured the severity and progression of the disease, including walking speed.

The results showed that Parkinson’s patients’ overall quality of life, mobility, motor skills, and walking speed improved by 0.27 meters per second.

Participants were also asked to indicate how much they agreed with a series of six statements, such as “I tend to bounce back quickly from difficult times” and “I usually get through difficult times with little trouble.” They were asked to rate it on a scale of 5.

The researchers noted that Parkinson’s patients did not show increased resilience, but their caregivers did. Care partners also recorded better depression scores after the cycling program.

“It’s equally important for care partners to be cared for, so we’ve added them to our cycling partners,” Tolik said. “The aim of our small study was to determine whether tandem cycling is beneficial. The next step is to confirm the results in a subsequent study with a larger number of participants. ”

The study, published last week, will be presented at an international conference next month. American Academy of Neurology 76^th annual meeting.

Parkinson’s disease – Affects nearly 1 million Americans — affects how people control their bodies. This condition is often characterized by slowness of movement, tremors, stiffness, and difficulty walking.

Celebrities like Ozzy Osbourne, Michael J. Fox, and Neil Diamond have shared their progress with Parkinson’s disease.

Comedian Richard Lewis, who publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with the disease last year, died last week at the age of 76.