-
It is just such a fucked up disease :(
My dad is on a research program where they are getting medicine through a pump providing a continuous dose rather than taking medication 10 times a day and it is great.
Tbh it feels like I got my dad back as he does not seem to have those shakes and walking issues as much anymore.He loves his bike and his ability to get around town now that he does not feel confident in a car anymore. My mum calls me once in a while when he has gotten back from a bike ride all gitty and chuffed.
Hulsroy-
My dad is on a research program where they are getting medicine through a pump providing a continuous dose rather than taking medication 10 times a day and it is great.
That sounds awesome! There was amazing research going on when I was specifically working with people with Parkinson's, and that was 15 years ago, so I can only imagine what progress has been made in the interim. I was also so impressed by the resilience of those people (and their partners!) and their innovation in finding practical solutions to their issues and ways of continuing to do things that bring them joy. More power to your dad!
ffm
@Hulsroy that is absolutely beautiful in every sense.
Cycling can be brilliant for people with Parkinson's even when they've lost a lot of mobility in terms of walking. There are some fantastic examples (videos show people with fairly advanced symptoms) here
and here - go to 2:18 for cycling
My guess is that it's something to do with the difference in balance requirements between walking and cycling (cycling doesn't require you to balance on one foot to initiate it) and the linked, pre-determined/cued leg motion of cycling. Whatever the reason, it's a lovely phenomenon in an unpleasant disease.