Parkinson’s disease makes it difficult for people to move. In addition to tremors or twitches, people with Parkinson’s often feel stiff and find it difficult to walk easily. Their handwriting shrinks, and their voice may become hoarse or soft.

While there are medications to treat Parkinson’s disease, recent research suggests that patients with this condition can benefit greatly from forced exercise: that is, exercising quite a bit faster and harder than they normally would choose. Dr. Jay Alberts tells us how he discovered these benefits on a tandem bike ride with a patient. Then he describes his research and its implications. Patients doing forced intense exercise had about 30 percent improvement in their symptoms compared to those doing voluntary exercise.

You’ll learn about a program at the YMCA that is designed to provide forced exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease. Kathy Helmuth explains how she and her colleagues have implemented the program at the Sarasota, FL, YMCA.

People with Parkinson’s disease are not the only ones to reap unexpected benefits from intense exercise. Dr. Jordan Metzl tells us about high intensity interval training and how it affects the brain as well as the muscles. In his popular group training in New York City, participants have a huge range of ages and fitness, and all have fun and improve their health.

Jay Alberts, PhD, is Vice Chair of Innovations within the Neurological Institute and researcher in the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering of the Cleveland Clinic. He has been leading the Pedaling for Parkinson’s Program and research for 15 years and is successfully translating observations in the field to the laboratory and now to the larger community of PD patients.

His articles have been published in Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews (Oct. 2011);  IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering (May 2013); Brain Connectivity (2013); BMC Neurology (Apr. 24, 2015); Parkinson’s Disease (Nov. 23, 2016); International Journal of Exercise Science (Jan. 1, 2017); and Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry (June 12, 2017).

Kathy Helmuth, RN, is the co-creator of the Parkinson’s Cycling Coach Training program. She is a wellness professional at the Sarasota, Florida, YMCA. The photograph is of Kathy Helmuth and two participants in the program.

Jordan D. Metzl, MD, is a nationally recognized sports medicine physician, best selling author, and fitness instructor who practices at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

Dr. Metzl is putting his ideas into practice as he pioneers the link between the worlds of medicine and fitness to promote health. He created the IronStrength community fitness program which provides free fitness classes tor thousands of New Yorkers each year to promote activity and wellness and is teaching other physicians around the world to do the same.

Dr. Metzl has written many books, including his most recent, Dr. Jordan Metzl’s Workout Prescription: 10, 20 & 30-Minute High-Intensity Interval Training Workouts for Every Fitness Level.

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