Acute effects of passive leg cycling on upper extremity tremor and bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that single bouts of high-rate active cycling (> 80 rpm) improve upper extremity motor function in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). It is unknown if passive leg cycling produces a similar effect on upper extremity function. This article examines whether passive leg cycling can promote immediate changes in upper tremor and bradykinesia in PD and if pedaling rates have variable effects.


METHODS
Twenty individuals with mild-to-moderate idiopathic PD completed 4 sessions, with each session taking place 1 week apart. In the second to fourth sessions, a motorized bicycle was set to passively rotate the subjects' legs at rates of 60, 70, or 80 rpm for 30 minutes. Quantitative upper extremity motor assessments were completed immediately before and after each session.


RESULTS
Passive leg cycling was shown to reduce tremor and bradykinesia in PD. However, the rate of passive cycling did not affect the degree of improvement in bradykinesia or tremor.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that lower extremity passive cycling can promote changes in upper extremity motor function in individuals with PD.
Department of Exercise Physiology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA. aridgel@kent.edu
Angela L
AL
Ridgel
Matthew D
MD
Muller
Chul-Ho
CH
Kim
Emily J
EJ
Fickes
Thomas O
TO
Mera
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014202:Tremor / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*