A new exercise bike donated by a community member offers people with Parkinson’s a powerful way to combat the progression of the disease.

Exercise is strong medicine for people with Parkinson’s, said LincolnHealth Occupational Therapist Lisa Castonguay, who offers LSVT BIG Therapy at the St. Andrews Campus to help people with Parkinson’s improve their ability to move. The specially designed exercise bike, donated by Miriam Wade of Southport, can help people who have difficulty walking or engaging in other forms of exercise.

Miriam was inspired to make the donation when she saw how her daughter, who lives with Parkinson’s, benefited from using the bike.

The new Theracycle has a small motor that assists people who can’t pedal independently. As the person exercising gains strength, the bike allows them to exert more force and gradually take over. Moving handle bars make the bike a full-body exercise.

The bike is one of several new machines designed to improve quality of life and independence in a greatly expanded Wellness gym. The new Wellness Department roughly doubled in size as a result of the expansion and now offers specialized areas for education and alternative programs like tai chi or yoga.

The power of exercise to slow the progression of Parkinson’s, a neurological disorder that causes tremors and increasing problems with movement and balance, has been bolstered by recent research. Studies have found that vigorous exercise, particularly if it requires complex movement (for example slowing down and speeding up, or frequently changing direction) can help people who have just begun to experience problems with walking and balance significantly improve their ability to move.

The new exercise bike, used in conjunction with therapies like LSVT BIG, can improve the ability of patients to move and exercise on their own. Exercise and strengthening programs can be adapted to meet the specific strengths needs of each individual, regardless of limitations, said Castonguay.

The bike was developed after doctors discovered that Parkinson’s patients who had great difficulty walking were able to ride a bike independently. After using the bike, even patients who had difficulty walking experienced significant benefits which lasted for some time.

For more information about therapies for people with Parkinson’s at LincolnHealth, please call Lisa Castonguay at 207-633-1894.