Effects of Rock Climbing on Parkinson's Disease

NCT ID: NCT05919771

Last Updated: 2024-08-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 32 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-07-12
• Study Completion Date: 2024-08-12

Brief Summary

This research study is being conducted to understand the outcomes of participation in the Up ENDing Parkinson's rock climbing program (24 sessions, or twice per week for about 12 weeks) on walking & mobility, hand strength & dexterity, and psychological well-being in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The rock climbing sessions are administered and supervised by Up ENDing Parkinson's, and are tailored to the skill level of the participant. Participants will answer questionnaires and complete physical performance tests twice, first prior to beginning the sessions and then again after the 24 sessions have been completed.

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease (PD) compromises multiple systems (neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, cognitive) over time, leading to functional decline. Additionally, individuals with PD may experience stressors commonly associated with chronic illness that can negatively impact psychological well-being. Exercise is commonly prescribed for individuals with PD and recently, interventions that are vigorous in nature and community- and performance-based are gaining traction (e.g., dancing, boxing, rock climbing). Despite increasing popularity, the evidence-base for these programs is still developing and far from conclusive. Recommendations are strong for: Community-based exercise, intensive aerobic and resistance training, and external cueing (Osborne et al., 2022). Rock climbing (RC) contains each of these elements and could potentially be a therapeutic intervention for people with PD. Yet little is known about the outcomes of this particular form of organized physical activity programs for this health condition. One such program is the rock climbing experiences offered by the UpENDing Parkinson's Rock Climbing (UEPRC).

The specific aims of this study are to characterize the effects of UEPRC on: 1) mobility and walking; 2) upper extremity (UE) functioning and 3) psychological and social well-being.

Participants will complete 24 rock climbing sessions tailored to their skill levels supervised by UEPRC over approximately 12 weeks.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

rock climbing

Vertical ascent of a surface specifically designed to elicit the skills that might be required to scale a naturally occurring rock formation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• at least 18 years old
• Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
• Hoehn & Yahr score 1-3
• able to speak and read in English;
• able to ambulate at least 10 meters with no assistive device or human assistance

Exclusion Criteria

• neurological disease diagnosis other than PD;
• uncontrolled cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or metabolic disease which may impact the ability to exercise or in which exercise is contraindicated;
• cognitive or psychiatric impairment precluding informed consent or ability to following instructions;
• pregnancy;
• inability to ambulate 10 meters without assistive device or human assistance

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Marymount University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Julie Ries

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Julie D Ries, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Marymount University

Locations

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia, United States

Countries

United States

References

Osborne JA, Botkin R, Colon-Semenza C, DeAngelis TR, Gallardo OG, Kosakowski H, Martello J, Pradhan S, Rafferty M, Readinger JL, Whitt AL, Ellis TD. Physical Therapist Management of Parkinson Disease: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy Association. Phys Ther. 2022 Apr 1;102(4):pzab302. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzab302.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 34963139 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

831

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id