Can riding tandem ease Parkinson’s?

RIDING a tandem bicycle is being tested as a new way to tackle symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a condition caused by loss of brain cells that play a key role in movement.

In a four-month study, patients at the Del Rosario University, in Colombia, will have a 30-minute session on a stationary tandem bike, consisting of a ten-minute warm-up followed by 20 minutes’ pedalling, three times a week.

Previous studies have found that exercising at a ‘forced rate’ — a higher level than a patient would choose — is helpful for Parkinson’s, and the researchers believe riding a stationary tandem, with another rider setting the pace, will lead to higher than usual levels of activity.