by: Sarah King, PT
When Sandy, one of my clients, decided to purchase a TheraCycle bicycle, I asked her if she would allow me to document the process so that other's in her situation could have some insight if they were also in the same position. She said yes so I set out to objectively document the process, from first call to first workout. Below is her experience.
Note: Please know that I have no relationship with TheraCycle and am not endorsing their products one way or another. This post is intended to be informational only.
With that in mind, here we go:
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
Purchasing the TheraCycle Pro
Sandy was sent a link from a friend to the ABC news segment (see it here) about the power of forced exercise cycling on managing Parkinson's Disease - specifically improving endurance, decreasing tremors, and lessening fatigue. We reviewed the website together and saw three models, the TheraCycle 100, Theracycle 200, and Professional Model. The phone number was listed and Sandy decided to give them a call.
Wendy answered and talked Sandy through the benefits of the cycle and the purchasing process. TheraCycle is not considered medical equipment (at the time of this post) and therefore is not covered or reimbursable by Medicare. They offer a 30-day trial period where you're able to try out the unit and return it if it doesn't meet your needs or expectations. Sandy decided to purchase the Professional Model because it offered a swivel seat and seemed to be a safer alternative in her mind. You can see the three different models through the link here.
Wendy set the process in motion and told Sandy she'd call to set up an exact delivery time and date. TheraCycle delivers directly to the home and, for a $150 set-up fee, has a representative present to help get the unit set-up since it's close to 200 pounds and would likely be very difficult for any person with Parkinson's to install themselves.
Wednesday, January 13th, 2016
Good Customer Service
No word from Theracycle about a delivery date. Sandy called TheraCycle to check on the status of her delivery and the representative told her they were on back-order for 2 weeks due to the sale they had at the end of the year. After a few calls back and forth between Sandy and Wendy, TheraCycle offered to waive the $150 installation fee. Wendy anticipated a delivery the following Friday between 12-4pm and that the delivery man would call when he was 30 minutes away.
Friday, January 22nd, 2016
Professional Installation
TheraCycle called Sandy around 12pm and told her they were 30 minutes away. The delivery man brought in the cycle and installed it in Sandy's room. Earlier in the week we had cleared a spot in her bedroom that's roughly 2'x4' for the bike to fit (actual blueprint of the bike is 20"x44") so there was plenty of room and an outlet available. The bike is extra sturdy and neither the pedals or handlebars will move an inch when the bike isn't turned on which makes it a little safer when getting on and off the bike.
TheraCyclePro - Installed in Sandy's Room
Setting it Up for Sandy
The TheraCycle Pro model came with 2 sets of pedals and we decided to go with the smaller pedals for Sandy since she's strong enough to keep her feet in the pedals comfortably. The instruction manual that comes with the bike is easy to follow and we used it to adjust the bike's seat height, depth, and pedals to fit Sandy's proportions.
Pedal #1 - Heavier, calf support, straps
Pedal #2 - Smaller, less support, adjustable foot strap
Exercise Setting Options
The TheraCycle Pro offers 3 variables you can modify while riding the bike: Duration of workout (time), how fast you want the bike to pedal itself (speed in mph), and the amount of effort you contribute while it's pedaling (effort). Using the computer we set Sandy up with the "Beginner" settings recommended in the manual which is 10 minutes at 3 to 5 mph. She felt it was going a bit slow for her so we increased it to 10 mph. She used the pedals and handlebars and attempted to pedal faster than the bike was moving and the computer registered this as "effort". This is where the forced-exercise phenomenon kicks in - the bike is setting your pace and you're trying to keep up (or beat) the speed set. (You can read more about forced-use and Parkinson's disease here).
Recommendations
If you have Parkinson's and have any trouble with your mobility, you'll likely want a friend or family member to help you change the pedal settings, adjust the seat, and help dial in your personal settings. The installation does not include a guided tour on how to use the bike.
Use the exercise log that's included with the manual to track your daily workouts. This will help you progress safely and be a reference for you to see how far you've come.
If you're using the larger pedals and have hard wood floors, it would be wise to put a thin yoga mat under the bike since the heavy pedals can scuff your floors.
