Module Objectives:
- Become familiar with the initial research that validates this program
- Learn the benefits you’ll bring to people with PD
- Understand the limitations of the results people can expect
Overview of Cycling and Parkinson’s Disease
If you know someone with Parkinson’s disease, you are not alone. In the United States, 50,000-60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed each year. This is in addition to the one million people who are already living with this disease. Worldwide, it is estimated that 5-6 million people have been diagnosed. Parkinson’s disease affects both men and women but statistics show that it occurs 50% more in men that women. The average age for Parkinson’s Disease is 60 years of age, however 5-10% can be “early onset” beginning at the age of 40.
Here is another statistic from National Parkinson Foundation:
**By the year 2030, one billion people on our planet will be older than 65. Those over the age of 50 will be greater than those under the age of 17! This means that the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease is expected to increase substantially in the next 20 years due to the aging population.**
In 2003, cycling was linked with Parkinson’s Disease. It happened purely by accident. Riding a tandem during the week long Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa a rider’s Parkinson’s symptoms noticeably decreased. The race was finished but the revelation was apparent. The rider was tested by Dr. Jay Alberts for validation. Dr. Alberts was a researcher at Emory University in Atlanta and is now at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Dr. Albert’s completed the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale or UPDRS-Part III Motor Exam and found that the rider’s symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease decreased 35% from testing done just six months previously. The symptoms most noticeably improved were a tremor (shaking of the hand) and handwriting skills. After reviewing these results, Dr. Alberts then concluded that riding the tandem while training for the RAGBRAI and the actual week long race helped improve the motor skills of this rider.
Dr. Alberts was about to embark on research that has shown promising results in regard to cycling utilizing forced workouts. Previous studies done with mice using voluntary and forced workouts had shown that there may be a correlation between a workout done at a voluntary level verses a workout done with a pre-determined pace. The research showed that the pre-determined pace group showed marked improvements in cognitive testing.
Dr. Alberts studied humans with Parkinson’s Disease. Over eight weeks of hour long rides using forced workouts, the patients in Dr. Alberts study showed significant positive changes in symptoms. The symptoms that were improved were tremors and upper body motor control. The lessening of symptoms were sometimes maintained for four weeks after the riders stopped riding.
Dr. Alberts then studied his patients brains with an MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. He determined that the patients/riders using forced workouts had a more active brain image than the patients who did not ride.
In conclusion, it is simple math. More revolutions per minute (RPM) cause more muscle contractions. More muscle contractions cause more messages to be sent to the brain. Biochemical reactions in the brain then take place. The more messages the more biochemical reactions creating a better response.