Pedaling for Parkinson’s: CNY spin class fends off effects of disease (video)

Liverpool, N.Y. — Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a small group meets for a private spin class in the back area of Pacific Health Club.

All the cycling students have Parkinson’s disease. They pedal to the beat of classic songs from the 1950s and ’60s, like “Lollipop” by The Chordettes or “Book of Love” by The Monotones. And sometimes, they sing along.

“Tell me, tell me, tell me,” sings Jerry Lotierzo, a retired guidance counselor and longtime activist. “Oh, who wrote the Book of Looooove?”

Lotierzo was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was 76. He didn’t have any tremors, but he noticed he was having trouble walking. Now he’s close to 80. He’s active and chatty in spin class (he boxes too), and can’t say enough good things about the program.

“You gotta exercise,” he said. “If you don’t, you’re not going to slow the progression of the disease.”

The spin class is part of Empower Parkinson Inc., a 501(c)3 organization that provides physical, educational, social and supportive programming for people with Parkinson’s disease. It was formerly known as the Syracuse chapter of Rock Steady Boxing, a non-contact boxing fitness program specifically for people with Parkinson’s.

Physical therapy veteran Patrick VanBeveren started the Syracuse chapter of Rock Steady Boxing in 2017. Now the organization offers spin classes, boxing, yoga and Tai Chi.

“Pat has done tremendous things for the Parkinson’s community,” said Lotierzo. “He’s been a savior really.”

Thanks to a grant from 100 Women Who Care CNY, Empower Parkinson Inc. could purchase six exercise bikes to launch a new spin class for people with Parkinson's disease.

Thanks to a grant from 100 Women Who Care CNY, Empower Parkinson Inc. could purchase six exercise bikes to launch a new spin class for people with Parkinson's disease.Katrina Tulloch

Thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from 100 Women Who Care CNY, VanBeveren was able to purchase six exercise bikes to start a “Pedaling for Parkinson’s” spin class for Empower Parkinson.

That’s where physical therapist Angela Glover Gitner came in.

Gitner specializes in helping people with neurological disorders. She had always wanted to teach a “Pedaling for Parkinson’s” class but never had the time in her previous job. Then the pandemic hit, and she was laid off.

She soon found a new job where she could make her own schedule. Suddenly she had the opportunity to both work and teach at the same time.

“This actually brings the marriage of two things: my love for working with people with Parkinson’s, and cycling together, so it worked out really well,” said Gitner. “I had someone tell me they move better and have more energy [after the class].”

Physical therapist Angela Glover Gitner specializes in helping people with neurological disorders. She teaches a spin class or people with Parkinson's disease three times a week in Liverpool, N.Y.

Physical therapist Angela Glover Gitner specializes in helping people with neurological disorders. She teaches a spin class or people with Parkinson's disease three times a week in Liverpool, N.Y.Katrina Tulloch

Pedaling for Parkinson’s uses an eight-week schedule with classes three times a week.

Cleveland Clinic developed the original pedaling program in 2012. One research trial showed that an eight-week, high-intensity aerobic exercise program successfully enhanced overall motor function, walking and cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s.

The hour-long class starts with a 10-minute warm-up, leads to a 40-minute ride at 80-90 RPM (revolutions per minute), and ends with a 10-minute cool-down.

“The 80-90 RPM is the hard part,” Gitner said. “Parkinson’s causes people to move slower. So the idea is to force an increase in speed for an extended period of time, and that helps with a lot of movement issues.”

Gitner keeps the energy high with the music from the ‘50s, ’60s and ’70s. Many of the hit songs from these decades are shorter too, giving the class plenty of breaks between periods of high-intensity pedaling.

“It’s a trip down memory lane,” she said. “And these old songs are just fun.”

Joy Hammond takes a spin class in Liverpool, N.Y. three times a week to stave off the effects of Parkinson’s disease. She also takes a boxing class twice a week.

Joy Hammond takes a spin class in Liverpool, N.Y. three times a week to stave off the effects of Parkinson’s disease. She also takes a boxing class twice a week.Katrina Tulloch

After spin class, Joy Hammond of Otisco, N.Y. also stays for boxing class two days a week. She likes to work on her strength, speed and agility.

“I’ve noticed I’ve become much more energized on the days I do the spinning, particularly,” said Hammond, 65. “I sleep much better at night. My legs feel stronger. I can feel the strength building up.”

Lotierzo’s biggest advice for people with Parkinson’s is to not ignore it — to do as much as possible to fend off the effects of the disease with exercise, medication, hydration and diet.

“And stay connected to the community so you’re not isolated,” he said.

Beyond the physical benefits, Empower Parkinson provides a social enclave for people struggling with the disease.

“When the doc says you have Parkinson’s, what do you do?” VanBeveren said in 2019. “You don’t know anything, you’re depressed, you go home and you’re isolated. You don’t know anyone else who has it.”

But here, no one’s alone in their diagnosis. They pedal in pairs. They tease each other (”Don’t fall off your bike!”). And sometimes, there are duets.

Katrina Tulloch shoots videos and writes life and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook

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