Clinical trial NCT05919771: Effects of Rock Climbing on Parkinson's Disease
Official title: Effects of Rock Climbing on Parkinson's Disease
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Parkinson Disease
Lead sponsor: Marymount University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-06-26
Enrollment: 32
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Adults over the age of 18 with mild-to moderate idiopathic Parkinson's disease

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.

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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Community Mobility and Ambulation
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Agility
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
measure: Change in Dexterity
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
measure: Change in Reaction Time
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
measure: Change in Apathy
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
measure: Change in Resilience
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
measure: Change in Social Adaptation
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
Other outcomes:
measure: Change in Grip strength
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
measure: Change in Quality of Life across Multiple Dimensions: Perception of difficulty with daily life across 8 dimensions of daily living
timeFrame: Baseline and at 12 weeks
Locations:
city: Arlington
country: United States
facility: Marymount University
state: Virginia
Study officials:
affiliation: Marymount University
name: Julie D Ries, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: 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.