Local Doctor Uses Bike To Treat Parkinson's

POSTED: 6:28 pm EDT July 14, 2008
UPDATED: 6:38 pm EDT July 14, 2008

http://www.newsnet5.com/health/16881994/detail.html

CLEVELAND -- A Cleveland Clinic researcher believes two wheels may be better than none for those trying to keep up with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's patient Steve Derman took part in a Cleveland Clinic pilot study based on the theory that pedaling a bike at a high rate of speed improves a Parkinson's patient's motor symptoms, reported NewsChannel5 news partner ONN's Brian McIntyre.

"It was a phenomenal experience. Three times a week for about an hour, and I couldn't believe it but the tremors would subside. Now it didn't last for that long, but it actually did subside," said Derman.

The tremors improved by about 35 percent in the study.

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Thanks, Carolyn. I wish there were more details. When he says:
"Now it didn't last for that long, but it actually did subside," I wonder how long the effect lasted.

I'm surprised it helps with tremors. That's very exciting news.

Someone at the conference I attended last week was telling me about the PT he receives for his tremor.

Mine is indescribably horrible.

He presses his palm down on a flat surfaces for a few minutes and when he lifts it, no tremor. How long does it last..."a few minutes." I wanted to ask him "why do it," but I was nice and didn't

Sorry to hear about your tremor. My dad had tremors. I do not. Yet. I'm the akinetic rigid/ gait disorder/ dystonia type.

I'm this way as well. With my hands making fists more and more along with the foot cramps.

Anyway back to the topic, I was an avid biker and used to put in many miles until I moved to my current house. Me thinks it maybe a good excuse to get the bike out of the shed. I'll have to take it really easy because the hills may do me in pretty quickly.

John

hi
here is a link to the original story on this subject when it was first reported 5/2/2007

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=GregD

When my leg tremors are a real nuisance, I lodge my toes under the front edge of the couch and do sit ups using my legs to pull me up. Knees bent. It's like a leg oriented sit up. It calms my legs for anywhere from a minute to actually causing meds to kick in. I think it is the cause of the tremor being redirected to a structured effort. It goes back to the old relaxation exercises where you tense the muscles and then relax them. My calves are in pretty good shape.

I have found that after cycling for an hour in the early morning, my meds last longer - and my symptoms aren't so bad. If I remember correctly, Dr. Dave Heydrick has had brain scans done after exercise and the scans showed that his brain is less stressed after vigorous exercise.

Rosebud - wow!! When my leg tremors get really bad, I just stand for a while. (I stand a lot) LOL

I spent five days with Pegleg last week. Even she told me my tremor is TWICE as bad as this past February, when I last saw her in person.

So, I am even more eager now to know whether my gene therapy surgery last June 2007 was the real-thing or not!!

I have bad RLS too. If I take my morning meds too late in the morning...stay in bed too long...I am miserable. Jumping legs is about as bad as tremor...oh hum.

I have a bike and a device so I can peddle indoors as well. I hope on the bike in the morning and I almost instantly feel like a human being. There is a lingering affect. But, I see it as instant relief from most of the symptons while I'm peddling and a compliment rather than a replacement to my meds.