Rock Climbing as a Novel Intervention to Improve Function in Parkinson’s Disease

PURPOSE: To preliminarily characterize the feasibility and safety of indoor rock climbing (IRC) as a therapeutic intervention for persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and to explore any potential IRC may have for improving physical function. METHODS: Subjects participated in 8 weeks of thrice weekly IRC. Each climbing session was comprised of 3 climbing sets. Sets gradually progressed from 5 to 8 min as did the degree of technical difficulty (5.5 to 5.7, assessed by the Yosemite Decimal System) over the 8-week intervention. Self-reported difficulty of movement and movement self-confidence were assessed using the Outpatient Physical Therapy Improvement in Movement Assessment Log (OPTIMAL). Dynamic balance was assessed using the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (miniBESTest). Functional leg strength/power was measured using the five times sit-to-stand test (5xSTS). Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 6-min walk test (6MWT). Grip strength (GS) was assessed using a hand dynamometer. All data were collected at baseline (T0) and after the intervention period (T1). Data for each subject were obtained at the same time of day on T0 and T1. RESULTS: Three men on stable medication regimes (in order of recruitment: ages 73, 70, 72 yrs; BMI: 24, 24, 25 kg/m2; disease duration: 7, 13, 4 yrs; subjects 1 and 2 had idiopathic PD, subject 3 had familial PD) participated. Most subjects reported improvements in difficulty of movement (change scores [T1-T0] for each subject: -5, +3, -7) and all reported improvements in movement self-confidence (-4, -9, -15) on the OPTIMAL. Minimal dynamic balance improvements (+1, +1, +2) were noted on the total score of the miniBESTest for all subjects. Minimal improvements in functional leg strength/power for 2 subjects (-0.54, +1.27, -0.71 sec) were observed as measured by the 5xSTS. No improvements were observed for 6MWT or GS. No adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: IRC appears to be a feasible therapeutic activity with minimal safety risks for persons with PD. IRC may play a unique role in decreasing the perceived difficulty of movement and in increasing movement self-confidence for persons with PD. IRC may potentially improve dynamic balance and functional leg strength. This case series provides preliminary evidence for larger studies to examine potential benefits of IRC for persons with PD.