Emily J. Fickes

Active-Assisted Cycling Improves Tremor and Bradykinesia in Parkinson's Disease

OBJECTIVES To develop a rapid cadence cycling intervention (active-assisted cycling [AAC]) using a motorized bike and to examine physiological perimeters during these sessions in individuals with Parkinsons disease (PD). A secondary goal was to examine whether a single session of AAC at a high cadence would promote improvements in tremor and bradykinesia similar to the on medication state. DESIGN Before-after pilot trial with cross-over. SETTING University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Individuals with idiopathic PD (N=10, age 45-74y) in Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3. INTERVENTION Forty minutes of AAC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Heart rate, pedaling power, and rating of perceived exertion were recorded before, during, and after a bout of AAC. Functional assessments included tremor score during resting, postural, and kinetic tremor. RESULTS This AAC paradigm was well tolerated by individuals with PD without excessive fatigue, and most participants showed improvements in tremor and bradykinesia immediately after a single bout of cycling. CONCLUSIONS This paradigm could be used to examine changes in motor function in individuals with PD after bouts of high-intensity exercise.

Caffeine Gum and Cycling Performance: A Timing Study

Abstract Ryan, EJ, Kim, C-H, Fickes, EJ, Williamson, M, Muller, MD, Barkley, JE, Gunstad, J, and Glickman, EL. Caffeine gum and cycling performance: A timing study. J Strength Cond Res 27(1): 259–264, 2013—The purpose of this study was to determine the most efficacious time to administer caffeine (CAF) in chewing gum to enhance cycling performance. Eight male cyclists participated in 5 separate laboratory sessions. During the first visit, the subjects underwent a graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max). During the next 4 visits, 3 pieces of chewing gum were administered at 3 time points (120-minute precycling, 60-minute precycling, and 5-minute precycling). In 3 of the 4 visits, at 1 of the time points mentioned previously, 300 mg of CAF was administered. During the fourth visit, placebo gum was administered at all 3 time points. The experimental trials were defined as follows: trial A (–120), trial B (–60), trial C (–5), and trial D (Placebo). After baseline measurements, time allotted for gum administration, and a standard warm-up, the participants cycled at 75% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max for 15 minutes then completed a 7-kJ·kg−1 cycling time trial. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Cycling performance was improved in trial C (–5), but not in trial A (–120) or trial B (–60), relative to trial D (Placebo). CAF administered in chewing gum enhanced cycling performance when administered immediately prior, but not when administered 1 or 2 hours before cycling.