Parkinsons Disease

[Ian PR]

Hi,

 

I was wondering if there is anyone out there with Parkinson's Disease who cycles and what their experiences of  it are.

 

I was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 - I have continued cycling, but the disease zaps my motivation and my muscle power every now and again......It is also a pain to live on a regime of medication every 3  hours or so.

 

Just interested....surely I am not the only one person cycling with it.

 

Ian

[lechatnoir]

the fact you're even trying to stay in the saddle is an inspiration to us all.

 

There was a chap in our neighbourhood who had Parkinson's and cycled around, much to his wife's dismay. I'd say he was better on two wheels than on two feet as he was really unsteady off the bike.

 

All the best for many more miles

[Tim Brink]

Hi,

 

I was wondering if there is anyone out there with Parkinson's Disease who cycles and what their experiences of  it are.

 

I was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 - I have continued cycling, but the disease zaps my motivation and my muscle power every now and again......It is also a pain to live on a regime of medication every 3  hours or so.

 

Just interested....surely I am not the only one person cycling with it.

 

Ian

 

Davis Phinney - dad of Taylor, former stage winner at the Tour, and Olympic medallist, was diagnosed when he was 40, and has been dealing with Parkinsons for 20 years, now. He has a foundation: https://www.davisphinneyfoundation.org/parkinsons-101/

 

I haven't looked on the site too much, but I am sure there is a forum/support group of sorts, or they can help you find one.

 

Cycling has played a big role in slowing the disease down, for him and many others. 

 

There is quite a lot of info online:

 

https://www.davisphinneyfoundation.org/blog/bicycle-ride-led-to-parkinsons-research/

 

http://www.invigoratept.com/blog/cycling-and-parkinsons-should-you-consider-this-spin-on-exercise

 

Good luck!

[MphatiPyga]

My dad has had Parkinson’s for a long time now and exercise is one of the most important parts of his treatment, if he wasn’t 83 he would still be on the bike, when he first started treatment he rode a lot.

 

I guess as long as you can do it safely go for it, luckily the meds for this terrible disease have come a long way in the last few years, my dads actually better than he was, he has followed the exercise part strictly and only had a negative bit when he was going through chemo and couldn’t exercise. Now that he is clean of that nonsense he is winning again, guess you have to be fighting fit!

[The Ouzo]

I think it was on here where someone posted a link to a guy that started cycling to get healthy, part of the story was about a doctor that got a patient with Parkinson’s on to a bike and they started feeling better as it subdued the symptoms.

 

My dad has a obscure form of Parkinson’s, it makes him shake quiet a bit.

Is on meds to keep it under control.

Since he started riding regularly late last year the symptoms have decreased and things are much better on the days he forgets to take the meds.

[Roy Davis]

I don't have Parkinsons but I am 76 and looking forward to many more years of cycling. Comments prove what a wonderful sport cycling is. I am strong and in pretty good shape thanks largely to cycling. Only been doing it for a few years, started when I was 69, never regretted taking up the sport.