How long-distance cycling became a useful therapy for one Parkinson's patient
CTV
Could more be better when it comes to exercise for Parkinson's disease? A unique Canadian case report suggests yes.
At 48, Steven Iseman's life changed when he received a devastating diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
But he is now leading scientists on a path that may help others with the disease after helping confirm that intensive exercise, via his long-distance cycling, pushed his physical limits and improved his Parkinson's symptoms like tremors, stiffness and brain fog.
"I think that exercise is the main thing that's making the difference," said Iseman, now 58.
While he still takes medication to control the symptoms, he says daily intense exercise takes "the edge off."
The team at the department of human health and nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph, led by Philip Millar, studied Iseman before and after a gruelling 7,850-kilometre cross-country cycling trip in 2022.
The changes were "profound," Millar said, suggesting those with Parkinson's can manage their symptoms and disabilities with additional exercise.
"He got fitter, and he got stronger," said Millar. "And probably the most surprising for us was that his motor symptoms went down so significantly."
