Rock climbing
Rock climbing has been studied in 1 paper since 2025: 1 trial in people. The newest paper, Feb 26, 2025: “Scaling new heights: a pilot study of the impact of climbing on balance, agility, and dexterity in individuals with Parkinson's disease”.
1 paper studies it8 findingsUpdated
“Findings were: CBMS (p < 0.001; ES = 0.573, 95% CI = 0.178-0.960)”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 1 lab in 1 country
- Human trial1
Studies in people
1 study gave rock climbing to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves balance and mobility
up: Improves agility
up: Improves manual dexterity
Trial32 peopleBothmean age = 66.1 (sd = 7.4) years12 weeks
Adults with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease
Archives of physiotherapy, Feb 26, 2025
What did studies of Rock climbing find?
4Studies of Rock climbing measured 4 outcomes; the most studied are grip strength (1 study), manual dexterity (1) and agility (1).
Grip strength
no changein humans1
1 study
Grip strength
no changein humans1
Rock climbing has no effect on grip strength in humans.
“There was no statistically significant change in GS, one of the secondary outcome measures.”
Human trial12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Rock climbing has no effect on grip strength in humans (non-significant).
“GS changes were non-significant.”
Human trialmild to moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr 1-3)twice weekly12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Manual dexterity
upin humans1
1 study
Manual dexterity
upin humans1
Rock climbing improves manual dexterity in humans.
“We found small ES for three of our four secondary outcome measures [ATT, 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), and Reaction Time as measured by BlazePods®]; however, the Reaction Time CI includes zero, impacting our confidence in the estimate of ES on this outcome.”
Human trial12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Rock climbing improves manual dexterity in humans (ES = 0.480, 95% CI = 0.094-0.858, p < 0.001).
“9HPT (p < 0.001; ES = 0.480, 95% CI = 0.094-0.858)”
Human trialmild to moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr 1-3)twice weekly12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Agility
upin humans1
1 study
Agility
upin humans1
Rock climbing improves agility in humans.
“We found small ES for three of our four secondary outcome measures [ATT, 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), and Reaction Time as measured by BlazePods®]; however, the Reaction Time CI includes zero, impacting our confidence in the estimate of ES on this outcome.”
Human trial12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Rock climbing improves agility in humans (ES = 0.462, 95% CI = 0.078-0.838, p < 0.001).
“ATT (p < 0.001; ES = 0.462, 95% CI = 0.078-0.838)”
Human trialmild to moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr 1-3)twice weekly12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Balance and mobility
upin humans1
1 study
Balance and mobility
upin humans1
Rock climbing improves balance and mobility in humans.
“As displayed in as point estimates and 95% CIs, we found medium ES for our primary outcome measure, CBMS.”
Human trial12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy
Rock climbing improves balance and mobility in humans (ES = 0.573, 95% CI = 0.178-0.960, p < 0.001).
“Findings were: CBMS (p < 0.001; ES = 0.573, 95% CI = 0.178-0.960)”
Human trialmild to moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr 1-3)twice weekly12 weeksn = 28
Archives of physiotherapy