Parkinson’s Cycling: How the sport has given Tony his confidence back

Tony has been living with Parkinson’s for 23 years. (Credit: Jennifer Wilson)

Tony Deeney has been living with a neurodegenerative condition that can be debilitating in ways one could never imagine, Parkinson’s. Tony and his partner Theresa have been attending cycling sessions in Easterhouse, which they say have been ‘transformative’ for Tony in every way.  

Tony Deeney was just 38 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

His wife Theresa revealed at that time exercise was not as encouraged to “Parkinson’s suffers”.

She shared that Tony became lethargic and had little to no interest in doing anything over time.

Tony added: “[Parkinson’s] can be very isolating”.

What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is a motor neurons degenerative disease that can impact someone’s daily movements and cognition.

Physical Activity delivery manager for Parkinson’s UK Amanda McKay explained that there are over 40 different symptoms and “no two people are the same”.

Amanda shared that the most well-known ones are bradykinesia – a slowness of movement, a tremor as well as muscle stiffness.

A people live with the condition longer “symptoms can increase and become more progressive and debilitating and complex”.

“The symptoms can really change hour to hour, not just day to day,” she added.

The nature of how these symptoms are presented leads to a lack in confidence in daily tasks.

Tony experienced this after he had a few falls, which meant he stayed in the house more often.

The only time he would leave would be when Theresa would come home from work.

However, when she retired in 2022, the couple began attending a variation of groups aimed at people living with the disease.

Which is when they stumbled across the Parkinson’s Cycling sessions hosted by a community centre in Glasgow.

The Phoenix Centre

In the middle of Easterhouse sits the powerhouse that is the Phoenix Community Centre.

Once known as a derelict library building, founder Richard McShane transformed the space and began operating with the aim to “provide a facility with resources, services and activities that would assist the wider regeneration of Easterhouse”.

Well, the community centre is doing just that with a variety of activities that they offer. Their sessions range from boxing to yoga, from walking to cafés – the limit is endless.

But one class that is really making a difference is their Parkinson’s cycling sessions coordinated by Caroline Cumming.

The class began over a year ago and takes place on the first and third Monday of every month at the Phoenix sports centre, which sits across from the community centre.  

Vanramm adapted bikes are used for the sessions to ensure the safety and security of those riding them.

They are power assisted bikes and have a moving chair to make it easier for those who have minimal mobility to use.

“These bikes are really the Rolls-Royce of adapted bikes. And they are solid and secure. And people who are cycling them feel really, really safe,” Caroline shared.

Theresa confirmed the safety that Tony feels when he is cycling on the adapted bikes.

She built a picture of what Tony’s life was life before, “If I can put it into context. I always have to help Tony, even when he’s got his stick and he’s got a relater, I still have to help him. Up until we came to the cycling, Tony had no independence in walking.”

Theresa held back tears as she reminisced on the first time Tony attended the classes, “ When he rode on his own, I couldn’t believe the freedom that he got – you could see it in his face,”  

The sessions had been “transformative” for Tony’s physical health but his psyche too.

“So to not put a finer point on it, this cycling club has given Tony his independence back,” she concluded.

Community and Cycling

Over the course of the year, the space has evolved from only offering cycling classes to harbouring a social café space, which has blossomed the participants experience.

So even if people don’t want to cycle they can still come along, have a chat and a cup of tea.

The social aspect is just as important if not more important to people living with Parkinson’s as the class builds on community.

Participants don’t have to worry about people asking them questions or wondering about their symptoms. They can just come along and enjoy themselves without excess worry.

Tony was quick to add that the community aspect of the classes was “very important”.

“It’s the support, encouragement. It’s such a positive place to come and very cheery and everybody is as daft as each other,” Theresa agreed.

Caroline said: “You can tell that we’re doing something right because of the smiles that people have in here. You know, if they didn’t enjoy it, they wouldn’t be coming.”

Exercise as medicine

Physiotherapy lecturer for Glasgow Caledonian University David Hegarty explained that Parkinson’s leads to a loss in dopamine, which can cause difficulty in performing “dual-tasks” – such as walking and talking.

Someone living with Parkinson’s can find it extremely difficult to multi-task in this sort of way.

Amanda from Parkinson’s UK affirmed this by saying that the more physical people are the more mobility they gain.

She says: “We want to encourage that cognitive load to people with Parkinson’s.”

David was keen to highlight that there’s not just one type of exercise that people should be taking part in to help with symptoms.

He said that people with Parkinson’s who exercise daily and more often will see the benefits of it.

Exercise pumps more blood to your brain which can help “nurture and water it”, which David says can improve movement as well.

Amanda expressed that people should exercise as often as they can but added that if it gets someone out of the house and “gives them the fire in their belly to do something, then that’s a good first step.”

She said that physical activity can bring so much more than just being able to move as people get involved in community and group spaces.

Both Amanda and David spoke about the medication that Parkinson’s sufferers have to take stating that there are a world of side effects.

However, with exercise people can see similar benefits of using medication without any of the side effects.

They said that exercise can become a medication in its own right for people who are living with Parkinson’s.

From Tony’s story, it’s clear that whilst he still experiences daily hardships of Parkinson’s – the cycling sessions have “transformed” his life.  

Cycling became Tony’s medicine.