Interval Active Assisted Cycling Improves Motor Function in Individuals with Parkinson's disease

To determine the effects of a four week interval active-assisted cycling program on upper body tremor and motor function in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Individuals were counterbalanced into two groups: a control group and an exercise group. Participants in the exercise group completed 30 minutes of interval active-assisted high-rate cycling with 5 minutes of warm-up and cool-down, three times a week for four weeks. Motor function of the upper extremity was assessed using the Kinesia Motor Assessment System (Cleveland Medical Devices, Cleveland, OH). Repeated-measures ANOVA analysis showed a slight, but non-significant, improvement in rest (p = 0.726; 1.22+ or -0.71 pre, 1.04 + 0.79 post) and postural (p = 0.148; 1.76 + or - 1.09 pre, 0.84 + or - 0.12 post) tremor. However, there were significant improvements in UPDRS Motor III scores (p = 0.004; 43.2 + or - 13.1 pre, 33.4 + or - 10.4 post).