Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

Cycling Spin Classes for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

The Massachusetts General Hospital in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic is conducing a study that examines whether cycling spin classes may be a good treatment for individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

Massachusetts General Hospital Exercise and Physical Fitness Parkinson's Disease
26 hours over 19 weeks
Estimated Time Commitment
Any Gender, 18-100 years
May Be Eligible
Non-payment compensation
May Be Offered
Survey
May Be Required
 
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This project is not recruiting.

Overview

What we are studying

The purpose of this study is to examine the practice of a rapid cadence cycling (RCC) or “spin” class for adults with idiopathic (of an unknown cause) Parkinson's Disease (PD) in the community setting of a YMCA gym. This study will use the rapid cadence cycling classes outlined in the Pedaling for Parkinson’s™ program.  RCC cycling in the Pedaling for Parkinson’s™ program involves pedaling at 80 – 90 revolutions per minute on a stationary bike for up to 40 minutes, with a 10-minute warm up and 10-minute cool down.
 
Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in adults with PD and may even help to protect the brain. 'Forced' cadence cycling (FCC), where adults with PD cycle on motorized or tandem bikes, has been shown to significantly improve the symptoms of PD. We will compare the results of this RCC study to a previous study done with adults with PD using forced cadence cycling in a laboratory setting, to see if this RCC program is as effective in improving motor (muscle) and cognitive (thinking and reasoning) function.
 
We will also examine if the RCC program is tolerable, safe, feasible and sustainable (for both the participants and the YMCA gyms) and how affordable it is for adults with PD. We will also evaluate the impact of RCC on quality of life.
 


 


 


Why it is important


What we hope to accomplish

Principal Investigator

Anne-Marie Wills, MD, MPH

Massachusetts General Hospital

Public Profile

Who can participate


  • Adults age 18 and older who have mild to moderate Parkinson’s Disease

  • Willing to keep current anti-parkinsonian medication and exercise routine stable during the study

  • No medical reason to prevent exercise

  • No history of dementia  

What you may be asked to do

1-2 weeks before the cycling classes start:



  • Come to MGH (or at a class site in a private room) to complete a few tests and questionnaires.

  • These tests will involve physical and cognitive assessments that will give us information on your health prior to the study.

  • We will also collect information on your age (date of birth), gender, race/ethnicity, medical history, medications, and exercise by interviewing you and by looking at your medical record.

  • The total time for the visit will be about 75 minutes.


 


Cycling Classes:



  • After enrolling in the study, you will sign up to attend one of the spin classes at one of the participating YMCA gyms.

  • The class will take place for one hour, three times a week, for a total of 8 weeks. 

  • There will be about 8 – 12 adults with PD in your class. There will be one to two trained and certified spin instructors to guide you and the other participants through the class and to help with mounting and dismounting the bikes. There will also be one or more volunteers and/or caregivers in the class to help participants.

  • You may bring your caregiver or a volunteer to class with you.

  • The class will include a 10-minute warm up, 40 minutes of rapid cadence cycling at 80 – 90 rpms (or as much as you can do), and 10 minutes of cool down. You may need time to work up to being able to cycle for 40 minutes and will be able and encouraged to take rest breaks whenver you need to.


 
About one week after your last RCC class:



  • You will come back to MGH (or at a class site in a private room) to complete the same tests that you completed at the first visit, before you took the clases. 

  • We will also ask you some of the same questions as at your first visit.

  •  Total time for the visit will be about 60 minutes.
     


 


About two months after your last RCC class:



  •  We will contact you by phone to collect information on your medical condition since the last visit, ask if you opted to continue any form of cycling therapy such as group classes or an individual exercise program and ask you to complete two questionnaires over the phone.

  • This follow up phone call will take about 15 minutes to complete.


 


Project activities may include:

  • Survey

Estimated Time Commitment

26 hours over 19 weeks

What You May Get

You will be connected to a local YMCA offering a Peddling for Parkinson's Spin Class.  Unfortunately we do not having funding to pay for participation in these classes so you would be responsible for paying the customary rate at that YMCA -- which is at most $15 per class but usually far less.  Participation in the class will include specialized instruction in a program of cycling exercise designed specifically for individuals with Parkinson's Disease and delivered by trained instructors.  Through the class, participants will be connected to a community of other individuals with Parkinson's Disease who are also participating in the class. 


 


 

Location

One of several local gyms. Pre/post assessments will take place at YMCAs where possible but otherwise will take place at MGH.

Map it!


Travel

  • Accessible by public transportation

Travel and Parking Details

CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED:


·       1)  Malden YMCA: Nov 12-Jan 18      M, W, F      2pm-3pm


         2) 110 Fitness, Rockland MA: Rolling enrollment   M-10 am; W-10am; Sat-9:30 am


         3) YMCA Cape Cod, West Barnstable MA: Jan 9- Mar 4    M, W, F 10:45 am or M, W, F Noon


         4) Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA, Marblehead, MA: Feb 11-April 4   M-W-Th     10:30-11:30 am

Additional Information

Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • Department
  • Other
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