{"id":29993,"date":"2025-07-31T10:55:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T10:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/?p=29993"},"modified":"2026-01-06T16:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:51:09","slug":"cleveland-researchers-say-long-term-exercise-programs-may-restore-neural-connections-in-parkinsons-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/2025\/07\/31\/cleveland-researchers-say-long-term-exercise-programs-may-restore-neural-connections-in-parkinsons-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleveland Researchers Say Long-Term Exercise Programs May Restore Neural Connections in Parkinson\u2019s Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Investigators used deep brain stimulation devices to record brain signal changes after 12 dynamic cycling sessions.<\/em><\/p>\n

It was the early 2000s when researchers first showed that exercise can help relieve the tremors that are common with Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n

So far, researchers haven\u2019t been able to explain how exercise helps. But they may be getting closer to an answer.<\/p>\n

A novel study conducted at University Hospitals and the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, through its Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center, provides clues, as it shows that long-term dynamic exercise programs might have wider restorative effects on the brain signals of Parkinson\u2019s Disease (PD) patients than researchers previously thought.<\/p>\n

Researchers used recordings from participants\u2019 deep brain stimulation devices to try to assess how long-term exercise programs might be re-activating connections damaged by Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n

Unlike previous studies, this investigation sought to decode the brain changes linked to motor symptom relief; both with the help of second-generation DBS devices and a long-term dynamic cycling exercise regimen in Parkinson\u2019s patients.<\/p>\n

Details on the study are published in the June 2025 issue of Clinical Neurophysiology<\/a>. The pilot investigation, funded by a VA Merit Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs along with philanthropic funds to the Department of Neurology at University Hospitals (Penni and Stephen Weinberg Chair in Brain Health) was led by UH & VA neurologist Aasef Shaikh MD, PhD<\/a>, who is also Vice Chair for Research at University Hospitals, Professor of Neurology, and Associate Medical Director of the Cleveland FES Center. Prajakta Joshi, lead author of the article, is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering at the Shaikh Lab that is part of University Hospitals and Cleveland FES Center at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve already established over years of study that dynamic cycling regimens are beneficial for treating Parkinson\u2019s tremor,\u201d said Dr. Shaikh. \u201cThe latest study adds the use of deep brain stimulation and an ongoing exercise program to visualize how long-term exercise might be rewiring neural connections in the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another unique and critical part of the study, Dr. Shaikh added, was the collaboration between the two medical systems, which provided a larger pool of potential participants for recruiting purposes.<\/p>\n

About the Study <\/strong><\/p>\n

Participants with Parkinson\u2019s Disease \u2013 including military Veterans \u2013 were required to take part in 12 dynamic cycling sessions over a four-week period.<\/p>\n

All study participants had previously been implanted with deep brain stimulation devices to treat their motor symptoms; while simultaneously measuring the brain signals in the region where the electrodes are implanted.<\/p>\n

Another critical aspect of the study was the adaptive cycling regimen investigators used. This technology empowers the bike to learn how patients perform while biking.<\/p>\n

For example, viewing the connected game screen, riders are instructed to pedal up to 80 rpm, and to maintain that speed for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, their pedaling intensity is shown by an on-screen balloon, and riders have to keep the balloon aloft over water but within specific parameters on screen.<\/p>\n

However, the adaptive quality of the bike keeps riders guessing as to how much effort to apply. The bike\u2019s motor assists them in attaining 80 rpm, but also adds and reduces resistance depending on the rider\u2019s level of effort. Researchers believe this push and pull mechanism is particularly beneficial in treating Parkinson\u2019s symptoms.<\/p>\n

Kent State University PhD candidate Lara Shigo, a co-author of the study, acknowledges 80 RPMs is faster than a person would naturally choose to ride, but says the level doesn\u2019t cause fatigue because the bike\u2019s motor assists the rider in attaining that level.<\/p>\n

Exciting Findings <\/strong><\/p>\n

Brain signal recordings were captured from participants\u2019 implanted DBS electrodes to assess participants\u2019 brain signals before and after each exercise session.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal was to understand the immediate and long-term effects of the exercise in that region of the brain where the electrodes are implanted, which is also the same area where Parkinson\u2019s pathology is evident,\u201d Dr. Shaikh said. Researchers did not observe immediate brain signal changes, but after 12 sessions, they saw a measurable change in the brain signals responsible for motor control and movement. Joshi and the team observed that while modern DBS systems offer a novel window into brain activity, they are limited to capturing signals only from the regions where the electrodes are implanted. As a result, other brain areas that may also contribute to the observed patterns could remain unmonitored. The key insight, Joshi explains: \u201cThere may be a broader circuit involved. Numerous upstream and downstream pathways could be influenced by exercise, and it\u2019s possible that we\u2019re inducing a network-level change that drives the improvement in motor symptoms.\u201d Additional work could help provide answers, Joshi adds. \u201cThe good news is that our next investigations could bring us closer to revolutionary and personalized treatments for PD.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patient Success<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amanda \u201cMandy\u201d Ensman, 59, was diagnosed with PD 12 years ago and participated in the study. \u201cI knew I needed to start exercising. It really does make a difference,\u201d she explained. \u201cBiking helped me with a variety of symptoms I was struggling with, including my gait, walking and increased my energy levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mandy now regularly participates in physical therapy regularly at InMotion, where the study took place. The gym holds workout classes and programs that are geared specifically towards PD patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caption: Only participants with deep brain stimulator devices, used to manage their Parkinson\u2019s symptoms, were eligible for the study. Researchers were able to capture recordings from the devices to assess participants\u2019 brain signals before and after exercise sessions.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Caption: Researcher and doctoral candidate Prajakta Joshi, right, speaks with a study participant prior to a dynamic cycling session.<\/em><\/p>\n

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Investigators used deep brain stimulation devices to record brain signal changes after 12 dynamic cycling sessions. It was the early 2000s when researchers first showed that exercise can help relieve the tremors that are common with Parkinson\u2019s Disease. So far, researchers haven\u2019t been able to explain how exercise helps. But they may be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":29994,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-people"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29993"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29995,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29993\/revisions\/29995"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fescenter.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}