Cycling and Parkinson's Patients

Recent news on cycling and its' possible benefits for patients suffering from Parkinson, has highlighted just how much we still have to learn about this insidious disease.  


While reading the NY Times article and watching the video on ABC News with family members, we were struck at how much it reminded us of my father:  not that we ever understood the why, but Dad too can cycle on a stationary bicycle for 15 minutes at a time.  Ask him to walk more than a few steps, and he stumbles or freezes.  Climb stairs, and it becomes a risky proposition.  


In the past, Mom, with the help of Dad's live-in caregiver, would try and take Dad for a daily walk down the block, or at least part-way.  What started out as a full block 3 years ago, became the length of 4-5 neighbouring homes over time.  Some days, even that was untenable. 


Once the snow arrived, she would try and get him on the stationary bike indoors as another form of exercise.  Interestingly enough, he would put the timer on for 15 minutes, and pedal away.  Without any difficulty.  And usually with a smile on his face.  Perhaps because it allowed him to feel free and somewhat mobile?  


What exactly is involved in cycling and retaining your balance on a bike, that doesn't translate successfully to taking a few steps in a hall, or to the washroom?  It will take physicians such as Dr. Bloem, who through observation and openness to new ideas, to answer those as well as the many other questions that Parkinson patients and their families have.  Here in Canada, we have Dr. Lang, the head of the Movement Disorder Clinic at Toronto Western, a leader in Canada in his own right.  He also happens to be Dad's specialist . 


Hopefully at some point, there will be many more tools available to make this disease more manageable.  In the meantime, we continue to welcome news such as this.  


Its one more hint of a piece of this puzzle called Parkinson's disease.