Leisure Charity Launch Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson’s

Media Release

L-R: Victoria Barker, Fitness Experience Manager, alongside Matthew Smith Health Innovation Assistant at Everybody Health & Leisure

Everybody Health & Leisure to launch dedicated group cycling classes in February, which are available at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, for people living with Parkinson’s Disease.

The classes include riding an indoor stationary bike, which has been shown to reduce Parkinson’s motor symptoms by as much as 35%. The sessions start with a warm up, followed by cycling with some resistance and finishing with a cool down.

Donna Williamson, Senior Health Innovation Manager at Everybody Health & Leisure shared:

“We are delighted to be awarded a grant from Parkinson’s UK to pilot a dedicated cycling therapy class for people living with Parkinson’s. Research shows that people with Parkinson’s experience significant benefits from pushing pedals on a regular basis and has been shown to improve overall motor function, reduce tremor, reduce rigidity and reduce slowness of movement. As the leading Health and Wellbeing Charity in Cheshire East it’s important we create innovative approaches to caring for people with Parkinson’s to be physically active and improve quality of life. Our dedicated class will provide a safe and friendly environment for people to exercise, backed by evidence.”

Research has shown people with Parkinson’s experience significant benefits from pushing bike pedals on a regular basis, including:

Reduce bradykinesia
Improve aerobic capacity
Improve mood
Improve cognitive function
Increase joy and social connections

Tim Morton, Physical Activity Programme Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Everybody Health and Leisure to help more people living with Parkinson’s to enjoy an active lifestyle with the condition. Cycling is shown to have a significant positive impact on a person’s motor skills and can help to lift their mood too. We hope that more people will be able to take advantage of the new cycling programme and live well with the condition.”

Cycling is great fun and almost anyone can do it, with Everybody’s classes being tailored to each individual and cater for all needs and abilities.

To find out more information visit, www.everybody.org.uk/bike-therapy-for-people-living-with-parkinsons/.

Booking is essential through the Everybody Healthy team. To register your interest or have any questions or want to self-refer onto the class please call: 01270 685589 or email: [email protected]

Ends.

Notes to Editor

Everybody Health and Leisure are a registered charity which aims to provide ‘leisure for life’ by improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. The charity operates 16 leisure facilities including 9 swimming pools and 7 Taste for Life cafes across the Cheshire East region, and delivers a range of targeted health, sports and disability and inclusion programmes. For more information please visit: www.everybody.org.uk or follow on Facebook @EverybodyHealthLeisure and Instagram @ebleisure

Media Contact

Name: Matt Shannon

Organisation: Everybody Health and Leisure

Email: [email protected]

About Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s UK

Parkinson’s is what happens when the brain cells that make dopamine start to die. There are more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. Some are treatable, but the drugs can have serious side effects. It gets worse over time and there’s no cure. Yet.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Around 153,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s.

We are Parkinson’s UK. Here for everyone affected by the condition. Funding research into the most promising treatments, taking us closer to a cure every day. Fighting for fair treatment and better services.