Climbing – From Extreme Sports to Therapy

Abstract

Not so long ago climbing was perceived as an extremely demanding activity, intended only for an elite group, is now gaining new supporters year by year. The mass emergence of artificial (indoor) climbing walls with routes varied in different difficulty levels caused that nowadays it is a sport available for people of different ages, as well as those with disabilities. Comprehensive impact of climbing on the body aroused interest not only of trainers and teachers of physical education, but also physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychotherapists. Therapeutic climbing is successfully used in the field of orthopaedics, psychotherapy, neurology and geriatrics, as well as an educational tool for the treatment of children and adolescents with hyperactivity, attention deficit or drug problems. It can also be used as a form of prevention of civilization diseases and a way of dealing with mental trauma caused by war and difficult living conditions.