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My friend sent me this link to a video about how tandem cycling is helping reverse symptoms of Parkinson's in senior citizens. Pretty interesting, check it out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26512703#26512703

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Yeah, I wonder if any Chicago area clinics/hospitals are doing this. Seems like a good volunteer opportunity... I would definitely do it.

DEADhex said:
I saw that today. I hope they find that riding single and not just tandem has the same benefits.
Yeah, there's definitely the smoother, controlled motion aspect. I think there's also the aspect of, the patients don't have the strength pedal at a cadence that's high enough, so that's where the tandem partner comes in.

I'd actually really love to get into this if it takes off as a treatment.


elle said:
I've never ridden tandem, but wonder if it works out like that because there's some sort of 'follow me' synchronization going on. Instead of just pushing peddles on your own, you're following the subtle push and pull of someone else on the same chain and maybe that helps guide a person into training their nervous system to follow smoother, more controlled motion. Interesting.
This is really cool. My dad rode solo until his balance got too bad to reliably stay upright on the bike. After that, he still walked.

I agree with Leah that this would be a cool volunteer opportunity. It would be nice to able to help someone this way.
My wife told me that the problem with parkinson's is getting the patient to start an exercise (not unwillingness, but because of the tremors), so the tandem is a great way for a therapist to initiate the movements. I would hope that riding solo, if the patient can do it, would have the same benefit.
This is a great discovery.

DEADhex said:
I saw that today. I hope they find that riding single and not just tandem has the same benefits.
Click here for the video.

Marne Provost said:
There was a video posted of a guy with end stage Parkinson's that rode a bicycle alone, but could barely walk. Does anyone have a link to the video? Martin said it may have been on the CCM or BCHI listserv.
Glad I could help. It was amazing to watch this again.

Anne Alt said:
Click here for the video.

Marne Provost said:
There was a video posted of a guy with end stage Parkinson's that rode a bicycle alone, but could barely walk. Does anyone have a link to the video? Martin said it may have been on the CCM or BCHI listserv.
I met two people today who ride tandem in Arlington Heights, one of them was blind.
a bit later in the year... I'm one of those two people, the other was Mike Delaney, here we are on Mike's Santana tandem, about to lead a group back to Elmhurst from Arlington Heights that day...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#549...

together Mike & I lead our weekly "Early Fast Busse" ride for the Elmhurst Bicycle Club, it goes off Saturdays at 6a from Elmhurst to, around and back from Busse Woods

also, my photos from the Governor Quinn Bike Bill signing can be seen here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jromeh/sets/72157625068385070/

and others (thanks to Petra) are here...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#

if you seek tandems and captains, my friend John Loesch organizes "Blind Stoker" rides with NEDSRA out here in DuPage County... John is very well connected with plenty of CATS (Chicago Area Tandem Society) members and can probably rustle up some volunteers for whatever you'd like to organize

best,

--Jerome
I did one of these "Blind Stoker" rides last year and one this year. They're great, John Loesch is great, and John is the guy to talk to.


Jerome Hughes said:
a bit later in the year... I'm one of those two people, the other was Mike Delaney, here we are on Mike's Santana tandem, about to lead a group back to Elmhurst from Arlington Heights that day...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#549...

together Mike & I lead our weekly "Early Fast Busse" ride for the Elmhurst Bicycle Club, it goes off Saturdays at 6a from Elmhurst to, around and back from Busse Woods

also, my photos from the Governor Quinn Bike Bill signing can be seen here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jromeh/sets/72157625068385070/

and others (thanks to Petra) are here...

http://picasaweb.google.com/petrahof/GovPatQuinnInArlingtonHgts#

if you seek tandems and captains, my friend John Loesch organizes "Blind Stoker" rides with NEDSRA out here in DuPage County... John is very well connected with plenty of CATS (Chicago Area Tandem Society) members and can probably rustle up some volunteers for whatever you'd like to organize

best,

--Jerome
Here's a related article from the New York Times.

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