On June 6 the Mill Creek Family YMCA in South Everett, WA, became the first licensed Pedaling for Parkinson’s program in the country. They will begin the first class on July 11. It will run M, W, F from 1-2 p.m. for eight weeks with the opportunity to follow up for life. This class is primarily for Level 1 & 2 patients. There is room for 16 pwp cyclists, although they will add an additional class if there is sufficient demand.

For more information contact Cindy Mascari, cmascari@ymca-snoco.org

To hear more about the program and recent developments in Pedaling for Parkinson’s tune into Robert Roger’s blogtalkradio for an interview with Nan Little this Wed., June 8, at 3 p.m. There will be a call in opportunity. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkins...nt-kilimanjaro

Wednesday we are hosting a Hot Topics call focused on exercise. The dial-in call will feature Todd Sherer, PhD (MJFF CEO) and Lisa Shulman, MD (from the University of Maryland) at noon EST. If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to hottopics@michaeljfox.org

We will also be uploading the call as a podcast on our website in case you’d like to listen to it at a future date.

Debi

This is all important; but, and tho it isn't funny , it all boils down to delivery system. This is the one positive thing you can do. Add the wii and some music _ it has short term appeal for me but requires more self discipline than I have to spare . It's hard enough getting thru the day; i can't place too much investment in the compulsion to have exercised , self initiated, but recently learned, moderately - this is useful information and needs to have more attention. It comes in spurts and many can't get themselves there and it's not safe for them to do so.

here is the reality of it but i'm in a good time for that and it is the best medicine....irritatingly so.

I have been trying cycling at 80rpm recently - have managed the unimpressive total of 7 minutes so far and then I can't breathe and my legs go to jelly. Plus I find it spectacularly boring, but I am going to keep at it and see if I can at least increase my cardiovascular health.

Trixidee

Trixidee and Paula, I understand your frustration. I gave a class yesterday to the staff at Mill Creek and it was so hard to describe how mentally and physically difficult it often is to get on the bike, even when I know it is the best thing I can do for myself. Trixidee, your 7 minutes at 80 rpm is impressive. Are you wearing a heart rate monitor to know that you're keeping within 60-80% of your maximum heart rate? I keep lowering the resistance on the bike until I can go 80-90 rpm for the whole time. My heart rate gets in the right zone after about 5-7 minutes if I keep the resistance low. That seems to work for me. If I increase the resistance at the beginning, I get to the heart rate zone faster, but I've worn myself out a bit.

My 6 mo. old granddaughter is sleeping in the crib next to me. She and my grandson are my motivation.

trixie,
imho, you gotta walk before you run, with any aerobic exercise i've always worked gradually to build endurance.
hope you aren't taking any undo health risks.

Paula and Trixidee,
** I believe it is not impossible or late to start exercise 5-10 mins(say) repeated as many times as possible. when you start, it will be like a burden or duty but you will enjoy it in time.

** It is unfotunate that exercise is not a part of the formal PD treatment and all PD doctors I have seen never mentioned it and were not impressed by my consistant 2 hours daily exercise that I do as a religious ritual.

** I was lucky that I started exersing from day one with half hour routine daily which I was able to increase to my present level of 2 hours over about 5 years since diagnosis

** I exercise the first thing in the morning after taking one tea spoon of creatin, 30 gm of whey and 3 spoons of coconut oil, which I believe that they increase my stamina.

** I take 5 mins of cold shower after exercise

** I put music I like during exercise and I enjoy the exercise ritual so much that I consider it the best time of the day.

** I do my exercise in the morning before taking my medication

** The exercise includes taichi or Yoga followed by stationary cycling for 50 mins at 80-100 rpm

** Usually, I also play wii sport in the afternoon with my 8 yeard grand son.

** I believe that exercise has helped me to reduce mobility problem but not my tremor which has progressed over the years.
I hope this will help some. Good luck and hope you update us.
cheers

If you live near a YMCA, you can contact them and ask them to start a Pedaling for Parkinson's at the Y program. There is no cost to them and they get researched protocols for the exercise, measurements for both physical and cognitive responses on their participants, and become part of a community of people making a huge difference in the lives of people with Parkinson's. Since I'm going to Africa shortly to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with a group of PD and MS patients, I've asked potential donors to donate to the Pedaling for Parkinson's at the Y effort on the pedalingforparkinsons.org webpage. Hopefully, we'll be able to help purchase bikes, provide scholarships and respond to other requests. (I can't believe I'm more fit with PD than I was before I had the disease.)

The Pedaling for Parkinson's at the Y program is expanding. The Cleveland area YMCA is planning on starting the program at 11 branches on August 1. The YMCA of Greater Seattle just signed a contract for the 10 branches in its Association, planning to start classes in early fall, first at the Downtown facility, then expanding to the others. The Ys are waiving joining fees and class fees for Parkinson's patients.

There are spaces in the Mill Creek Y (south Everett, WA) class that begins July 11. Go to the pedalingforparkinsons.org website and click at the Mill Creek Y link on the top to get to the brochure.

One week from today our group begins to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. If you would like to follow along, here is the description from our wonderful leader, Lori Schneider.

"Our actual climb begins July 13. We will be posting daily updates and photos on Facebook, twitter (to be set up soon), ETAdventure.com, and additional updates from our company AlpineAscents.com Here is today's posting from:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lori-S...4419341?ref=nf For the complete Alpine Ascents itinerary summary visit: http://www.alpineascents.com/kilimanjaro-dtd.asp

We have 10 people living with MS, 4 people living with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and 14 amazing companion climbers living to give us emotional support and encouragement every step of the way. Go Team Kili! Hiking 39 miles (63 km) in 7 days, with 16,077 ft. (4,891m) elevation gain to the 19,344ft (5896m) summit on Kilimanjaro!
Take a Leap Of Faith with us! Follow our adventure on fb, twitter, ETAdventure.com, and AlpineAscents.com Believe........."

Of the four of us with PD, three are men with early onset. I am the oldest woman in the group by 10 years plus. I have a wonderful banner of encouragement that I'll think about and look at every day as well as my husband and team mates to help me keep going. The top of the mountain is nearly four miles higher than where I'm sitting as I write this. Three breaths and one step at a time.