Cycling Research Board Annual Meeting

Background: Regular physical activity plays a crucial role in the management of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Yet, gait impairments—particularly Freezing of Gait—often make walking difficult and contribute to sedentary behavior. Remarkably, many individuals with PD demonstrate a preserved ability to perform cycling movements, even when experiencing severe gait disturbances. This retained motor capacity positions cycling, including the growing use of e bikes, as a highly promising and alternative form of physical activity. However, little is known about the specific challenges faced by people with PD when cycling outdoors, how their cycling performance compares with that of healthy adults, and what personal or environmental factors motivate or discourage them from engaging in cycling. Objective: The MaestroPD project aims to 1) compare cycling performance between PD and healthy controls under various real-life cycling conditions, 2) identify the clinical features that relate to poorer cycling abilities in PD, 3) determine the motivators and barriers for cycling uptake in PD. Methods: 1) Participants with and without PD will complete a standardized outdoor cycling track assessment using both conventional and electric bicycles. The track incorporates ecologically relevant tasks—such as looking over the shoulder, signaling with one hand and braking—performed under varying conditions (preferred pace, slow pace, and during a cognitive dual task). Kinematic data collected via inertial measurement units will enable quantitative comparisons of cycling performance. 2) Cycling performance will be associated with clinical measures including balance, strength, and cognition. 3) Semi structured interviews with PD-participants will inform a new population wide survey to identify the most important and PD relevant motivators and barriers for cycling participation. Hypothesis: We anticipate that the MaestroPD project will help reveal PD-specific obstacles for safe cycling. These insights will support the development of targeted interventions and cycling strategies, ultimately increasing physical activity and quality of life for individuals with PD.