The Northern Neck Family YMCA is very pleased to announce the start of a new program to support those individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Pedaling For Parkinson’s will bring together those suffering from early and moderate symptoms of Parkinson’s. The Pedaling for Parkinson’s program is based on twenty years of research indicating that a high intensity aerobics program on a bicycle can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s. Participants who ride two to three days a week over eight weeks have shown improvement in their Parkinson’s-related symptoms by as much as 35%, by the simple act of pedaling a bicycle at a rapid pace – optimally, 80-90 revolutions per minute.
The Pedaling for Parkinson’s program will be free and available to all YMCA members and non-members. Nonmembers of theYMCA will need to provide a medical clearance form from their doctor prior to joining the program. The sixty-minute classes will be held twice a week, using the stationary bicycle studio at the Northern Neck Family YMCA. The twice weekly sessions will continue for eight weeks. The program is scheduled to start on April 8th; April has also been designated as National Parkinson’s month.
Betsy Peters, Group Vice President YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas, described the goals of the program, “My hope is that our Y can provide a meaningful, fun and inspiriting environment where those dealing with Parkinson Disease can come together for exercise and fellowship.”
Steve Reiss and Jane Taylor, two senior spin class instructors at the Northern Neck Family Y, will be present during each class.cThey will lead the sessions and assist all participants, monitor the weekly progress of each class member and provide encouragement for the sixty-minute class.
Pedaling For Parkinson’s was founded by Dr. Jay Alberts, a neuroscientist and researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, and Cathy Frazier, a woman living with Parkinson’s. While riding a tandem bike across Iowa in 2003, they discovered that cycling reduced Cathy’s symptoms. With Dr. Alberts guiding the bike and Ms.Frazier on the back, she noticed something interesting after the week of cycling; her walk was steadier and her handwriting much more legible.
This experience led Dr. Alberts to study the effects of aerobic exercise (and cycling in particular) on cognitive and motor function through a project funded by the Davis Phinney Foundation in 2009. The results of that research defined a therapeutic protocol that was subsequently deployed in a few cycling studios across the country. Delivering almost immediate results, the test environments were converted to indoor stationary cycling classes that quickly became available to people living withcParkinson’s, and thus Pedaling for Parkinson’s was born.
Data from Dr. Alberts’ studies indicate that cycling may be an ideal mode of exercise for people with Parkinson’s because regardless of disease severity, individuals can achieve and maintain a moderate to high intensity of exercise significantly enhances overall motor function, certain aspects of walking and cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s. Additionally, the study’s compliance data highlights several important points, including that people with Parkinson’s regularly attend community-based cycling classes without external encouragement, and they can achieve and maintain moderate levels of exercise intensity without direct oversight.
Cheryl Holleran, Wellness Experience Director for the Y in Kilmarnock, further describes the program, “Beyond improving balance and mobility, participants get a huge mood and energy boost from exercise and socialization. Nobody needs that more than those fighting a disease like this.”
Since 2013, Pedaling for Parkinson’s has taken hold in YMCAs, gyms, and other community spaces across the country. Taught by local instructors, these accessible classes engage participants in a simple protocol three times a week and are proven both scientifically and anecdotally to help people with Parkinson’s feel better and live well today.
In 2023, the founder of Pedaling for Parkinson’s, Dr. Jay Alberts, chose the Davis Phinney Foundation to become the stewards of this innovative and effective program. With Davis’s roots in cycling and the Foundation’s history as an advocate for exercise, this was a natural next step to ensure the sustainability and broad availability of this program for people living with Parkinson’s.
The program is supported nationally by the American Parkinson’s Disease Association and The Davis Phinney Foundation.
Beginning March 21st, you will be able to find a current schedule of classes on our website at apdaparkinson.org/virginia or by phone at 757-408-8921.
You can also call the Northern Neck Family YMCA directly at 804-435-0223.
To sign up for one of our Pedaling For Parkinson’s classes, complete the online registration form on the website, and you’ll be provided with links and information on how to confirm your registration.
