Cycling - a simple therapy to improve Parkinson's symptoms

Tel Aviv residents enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the beach.

That seemingly absurd scene has sparked a series of medical studies on the effects of cycling on people with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects about 200,000 people in France and 12 million people worldwide .

This phenomenon was described by two Dutch doctors in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010, but the scientific community's interest actually began in 2003, when American neurologist Jay Alberts, while on a long-distance bike ride with a woman with Parkinson's, noticed that her writing and motor skills improved significantly after a few days. Since then, he has conducted many experiments and proven that regular cycling on a stationary bike at a moderate to high intensity can help reduce symptoms by up to 35% and slow the progression of the disease. From that result, he developed the "Pedaling for Parkinson's" program, which is applied at many rehabilitation centers in the US.

Several other studies in Europe have come to similar conclusions. A 2021 meta-analysis of 22 studies involving 505 patients found that cycling improved mobility, balance, walking speed, and quality of life. Scientists believe that the activity stimulates areas of the brain that control movement, creating a long-term positive effect, although the immediate effects may not be obvious.

According to Dr. Maud Elbel, a rehabilitation specialist at the Clemenceau University Rehabilitation Institute in Strasbourg, France, physical activity "is a medicine like any other medicine." Since 2018, Ms. Elbel has implemented a 6-week exercise program for people with mild Parkinson's disease, combining cycling, walking, yoga, swimming and table tennis. Each group of 4-5 people, exercise 3 times/week and each session is half a day. The initial results are very positive: increased muscle strength, more comfortable spirit, many people reduce the dose of treatment.

However, a 2024 survey by the French Parkinson's Association (France Parkinson) of more than 3,300 patients showed that nearly half still did not reach the minimum level of activity recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO): equivalent to 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. Many people stopped exercising after discovering the disease because of fear of falling or fatigue.

Doctors confirm that cycling is not only a suitable sport for people with Parkinson's disease but also an effective, safe and inexpensive treatment. Depending on the condition, the practitioner can use a stationary bike, a tricycle or an electric bicycle to help maintain a steady rhythm of movement and a sense of autonomy.

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