How Exercise Can Help With Parkinson’s

For people living with Parkinson’s, regular movement isn’t just helpful, it’s life-changing. Exercise can improve how a person moves, how they feel, and how well they live day to day. 

In this blog,we’ll explore how exercise and more specifically, indoor cycling, can help manage Parkinson’s symptoms, and how tools inside the Wattbike Hub - like the Polar View and Pedalling Effectiveness Score, can give useful insights to support your progress. 

How Can Exercise Help with Parkinson’s? 

Parkinson’s is a condition that affects the brain and makes movement harder. It can cause stiffness, shaking, and slower reactions. While there’s currently no cure, studies show that regular exercise can help people move better, feel stronger, and stay more independent. 

One study published in JAMA Neurology found that people with Parkinson’s who did high-intensity exercise three times a week had slower symptom progression and better movement over time (Schenkman et al., 2018). 

Another piece of research from the Cleveland Clinic in the US found that cycling at a steady pace - even when symptoms were advanced, helped people with Parkinson’s improve their balance, coordination, and walking. That’s because movement like cycling encourages the brain to make new connections and improve control over the body. 

Why Indoor Cycling? 

Many types of exercise can help people with Parkinson’s. Walking, swimming, yoga, dancing, and strength training have all been shown to improve mobility, balance, and mental wellbeing. The most important thing is staying active in a way that feels safe and enjoyable. 

That said, indoor cycling has some unique advantages, especially for those with limited mobility or balance concerns. 

But the real power comes when you pair cycling with smart tools that track your progress - and that’s where Wattbikemakes a difference. 

How Wattbike Can Help 

The Wattbike Hub is our free training app that works with all Wattbikes. It gives feedback after every ride, helping you understand how your body is working and how you’re improving. 

Here’s how some of our features can help people with Parkinson’s: 

1. Polar View™: See How You Pedal 

This feature gives you a visual of how you deliver power through each pedal revolution. Many people with Parkinson’s have more strength or movement on one side of their body, Polar View helps you see that imbalance clearly and you can work to improve it over time. You can track changes live in front of you and help to focus on each leg independently. 

2. Pedalling Effectiveness Score (PES): Track your progress 

Your PES gives you a simple number and RAG rating of your pedalling technique. The perfect score is 75.  By tracking this score ride by ride, you can see if you’re getting stronger and more balanced. 

3. Personal Workouts & Clear Feedback 

The Wattbike Hub offers simple workouts and easy-to-read feedback, including speed, power, heart rate, and more. This helps you stay in a safe training zone and track improvements week by week, even if your goal is simply to stay active and moving well. 

Progress You Can See and Feel 

Living with Parkinson’s can be challenging, but exercise is one of the best tools we have to fight back. It can help you feel more stable, confident, and in control of your health. And with Wattbike, you don’t just exercise - you get feedback, support, and a clear sense of progress. 

If you or someone you support is living with Parkinson’s, and you’d like to learn how Wattbike can become part of your health routine, we’d love to help. 

Check out our range of products that could help you continue your fitness journey.

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