1. < Parkinson's Disease

Rock Climbing for Parkinson's helps delay/improve symptoms?

Posted by elimseoj @elimseoj, May 4 12:35pm

Last week I saw a clip of a Today Show that my daughter sent me about rock climbing and Parkinson's. I attach that at the end of this post. Then I found a couple of other links that are relevant. I went and visited Roca Gym here in Rochester Minnesota to ask about climbing exercises for Parkinson's.

We talked by phone after I sent an email. There are three other people in the cycling for Parkinson's class (2x weekly) here in Rochester MN that would be interested. I also participate in Rock Steady Boxing but it hurts my left hand. I do PWR 3 times weekly and play ping pong for Parkinson once weekly.

Karen is one of the owners at Roca gym. Here is her email to me:

Hi Joe,

It was great to talk with you yesterday! We are excited to try an Open House climbing event to tailor to people with Parkinson’s.

I reached out to Molly from the YouTube video you sent me and called the gym she works at. She was out of town this week, but said that she would get back to me next week. I’m going to ask her more about their program and see if she can give us some tips/advice on how to get a program like hers started at our gym.

What days and times do you think we could have a Parkinson’s Open House on? When are most people available?

We are thinking of having an Open House be a 2 hour block on 2 different days during the week. For example: Tuesday from 9:30am-11:30am or a Thursday from 1:00pm-3:00pm. This will allow to maybe catch people with options if one or the other doesn’t work.

The open house type of event would allow for people w/ Parkinson’s to come in and get a tour of the gym, ask questions, and try climbing with one of our staff helping belay the climbers.

Thank you again for reaching and I think, with your help, and some others in the community, we could get this going!

Karen Schaar, Owner
Roca Climbing & Fitness
http://www.climbroca.com

Here are the links that I sent her:

This is the Today Show clip on YouTube


This is a story from the Parkinson Foundation:
https://www.parkinson.org/living-with-parkinsons/stories/clare-bennett
This is a podcast from December 2020
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/parkinsons-pathway/episode-2-molly-donelan-BMZ1E84Lz5G/#
All feedback is welcome.

Joe Smith

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Parkinson's Disease Support Group.

elimseoj | @elimseoj | May 4 12:56pm

At 81 years old, I know nothing about rock climbing in a gym or as an outdoor sport. I had to look up the meaning of "belay". "To belay is to secure or hold the end of a climbing rope so that the climber won't fall far if she slips. Your friend might climb a rock wall first, while you belay for her. You can belay on your own by fixing the end of your rope, but it's more common — and safer — to have a partner belay for you while you climb." Source Vocabulary.com

I attach some photos of what some of the "rocks" look like in the Roca Gym. I understand the colors represent different paths and that exercises our brain too.

If anyone knows more, please let me know.

Joe Smith
Rochester, Minnesota
REPLY
1 reply
jrwilli1 | @jrwilli1 | May 5 8:13am
In reply to @elimseoj "At 81 years old, I know nothing about rock climbing in a gym or as an..." + (show)
@elimseoj

At 81 years old, I know nothing about rock climbing in a gym or as an outdoor sport. I had to look up the meaning of "belay". "To belay is to secure or hold the end of a climbing rope so that the climber won't fall far if she slips. Your friend might climb a rock wall first, while you belay for her. You can belay on your own by fixing the end of your rope, but it's more common — and safer — to have a partner belay for you while you climb." Source Vocabulary.com

I attach some photos of what some of the "rocks" look like in the Roca Gym. I understand the colors represent different paths and that exercises our brain too.

If anyone knows more, please let me know.

Joe Smith
Rochester, Minnesota

Jump to this post

I’m not sure my husband could do the climbing on the rock walls but he does attend a class called “Climb” two days a week and it is an intense 45 min exercise class only for Parkinson’s patients. He says it gives him a better workout than his PT did. He can’t do the boxing since on a blood thinners. Sounds like that would be fun though.

REPLY
1 reply
elimseoj | @elimseoj | May 6 7:00pm
In reply to @jrwilli1 "I’m not sure my husband could do the climbing on the rock walls but he does..." + (show)
@jrwilli1

I’m not sure my husband could do the climbing on the rock walls but he does attend a class called “Climb” two days a week and it is an intense 45 min exercise class only for Parkinson’s patients. He says it gives him a better workout than his PT did. He can’t do the boxing since on a blood thinners. Sounds like that would be fun though.

Jump to this post

WOW! I found The Climb program in Indiana at this link, @jrwilli1
https://indianaparkinson.evrconnect.com/the-climb#:~:text=What%20is%20The%20Climb%3F,Who%20started%20The%20Climb%3F
Is it the same one your husband uses?

REPLY
1 reply
carolinemcgaughey7 | @carolinemcgaughey7 | May 24 12:03pm

My husband had PD-5 programme about 4 months ago. Tremors in his hands and jaw are gone. It doesn’t make the Parkinson’s go away but it did give him better quality of life. we got the treatment from ability health centre . com

REPLY
1 reply
elimseoj | @elimseoj | May 24 12:22pm
In reply to @carolinemcgaughey7 "My husband had PD-5 programme about 4 months ago. Tremors in his hands and jaw are..." + (show)
@carolinemcgaughey7

My husband had PD-5 programme about 4 months ago. Tremors in his hands and jaw are gone. It doesn’t make the Parkinson’s go away but it did give him better quality of life. we got the treatment from ability health centre . com

Jump to this post

When I click on the PD-5 Link on their site I get a message. Is it some type of Herbal program? That's what it looks like to me. Thanks for the tip.

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