Climbing is for everyone
Exercise is essential, even for people with neurological disorders. Two examples are Parkinson's and MS. Two conditions that have mental and physical impact. Keeping moving re-stimulates certain parts of the brain and muscles. It is not easy to climbing with a neurological condition, but nothing is impossible at Neolite!
Climbing with Parkinson's
In the spring Neoliet Eindhoven in cooperation with 'parKLIMson foundation' launched a pilot. During this five-week pilot, people with Parkinson's had the opportunity to discover climbing. With great enthusiasm, participants took to the wall. This group has since been expanded into a weekly climbing group.
Experience - particularly in the United States - shows that climbing can help improve balance, muscle strength, coordination and self-confidence. More than 25 climbing groups are already active in America. Participants report positive effects, which has been confirmed by research in Austria. Also in the Netherlands, awareness is growing around the positive effects of climbing in Parkinson's.
Climbing with MS
At Neoliet Tilburg we also started a pilot, this one focused on climbers with MS. Together with co-organizer and collaboration partner Sandra Scheffers, who himself has been diagnosed with MS, introduced participants to climbing and their physical abilities with MS at their own pace. It showed that climbing with Ms is possible and can make a valuable contribution to balance, coordination and strength.
Moving with MS is not always obvious, yet continuing to exercise is incredibly important. Regular exercise helps keep muscles strong, improves balance and coordination, and gives more control over fatigue. It does a lot of good mentally, too. Climbing is the ideal sport to work on strength, balance and self-confidence. Research and experience show: exercise makes a difference for people with MS. It is not a 'bonus', but a powerful tool to take control of your body and life.
