A new study is trying to determine if exercise can trick the brain into eliminating Parkinson's symptoms.
For nine years, Steve Derman fought Parkinson's disease.
Like most, he suffers from tremors until he takes a ride.
Steve is part of a study testing the effect of exercise on Parkinson's symptoms.
He must pedal over eighty RPM’s for results to occur.
Most patients can not do that on their own, that is why a tandem bike is used.
It is called forced exercise. "The idea behind it is if we force them to pedal at a higher rate, this rate will allow them to have biochemical changes that are necessary for improvements in motor function," explains Dr. Jay Albers of the Cleveland Clinic. "There's a possibility that there's an increase in dopamine, or there's a possibility that there's an increase in these neuro growth factors."
After eight weeks, Steve not only got in to better physical shape, researchers also noticed a change in his tremors.
So if the study determines this is a viable treatment option, a patient could have a tandem bike in their home and pedal with a family member.
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