Bicycle for Parkinson’s Disease

Bicycle for Parkinson’s Disease
Home physical exercises using a stationary bike and a remote monitoring app reduce the symptoms of movement disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease [1].

High-intensity exercises have proven effective in reducing movement disorders in people with Parkinson’s disease, but prior to this study, the usefulness of home programs used by many patients was not clearly defined.

Scientists from the medical center Radboud University, Netherlands, developed the platform ” Park-in-Shape», which includes software with virtual reality and real-time video. They implemented the so-called approach ” exergaming» or fitness games, video games with physical activity, to allow patients to exercise on a stationary bike at home in more comfortable conditions

Centralized Randomized Study NTR4743) evaluated improvements from this type of aerobic exercise in the motor domain in patients with mild forms of Parkinson’s disease (stages 1 and 2 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale), who were either receiving continuous treatment with dopaminergic drugs or had not yet started it.

The study compared two groups of patients, all 130 of whom performed exercises three times a week for six months and either continuously took dopaminergic medications (stable dose for at least one month) or had not yet received pharmacological support. In the first group, 65 patients exercised for 30–45 minutes on a stationary bike at home (intervention group). Patients were advised to exercise within a comfortable heart rate zone, gradually increasing it as they became more trained. In the second group, 65 patients performed simple stretching, flexibility, and relaxation exercises for comparison (control group) during 30-minute sessions.

All participants had a motivational app with tips for optimal learning, support from loved ones, and information for tracking treatment progress. Everyone was monitored: once at home and remotely every two weeks.

Patients were evaluated at different times, both during dopaminergic treatment, which was still effective, and during periods when its effects had ceased.

The results showed that patients training on an exercise bike significantly improved motor function after six months. Specifically, during the period of medication action, their assessment scale was 4.2 points lower than the control group. Additionally, unlike the control group, patients engaging in aerobics improved their cardiovascular condition by the end of the study. However, no improvements were noted in non-motor symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, or cognitive functions, which researchers attribute to the short duration of the intervention.

This study once again proves the significant role of physical exercise in addition to medication therapy for improving the condition of patients with Parkinson’s disease. However, if you do not have a console with ” exergaming», nothing to worry about, – a regular stationary exercise bike, which many have gathering dust at home, is very suitable for achieving the first improvements