Foundations in Clinical Management of the Pregnant & Postpartum Climber
A 1-hour, self-guided course for healthcare professionals
The essentials for keeping climbers safely on the wall through pregnancy and back to climbing after birth, from screening and red flags to a trimester-by-trimester plan and a staged return to climbing.
$79 early bird (20% off $99, code EARLYBIRD applied automatically) · access opens February 2027
More climbers are climbing through pregnancy
Obstetric guidance rarely mentions climbing, and climbing resources rarely address pregnancy, so most climbers decide on their own whether to keep climbing. This course gives clinicians a practical, evidence-informed framework to guide them with confidence, drawing on exercise-in-pregnancy guidelines, postpartum return-to-sport research, emerging climbing-specific data and clinical expertise.
You’ll learn how pregnancy changes the body on the wall, how to screen for contraindications and red flags, how to adapt bouldering, top rope and lead climbing through each trimester, and how to guide a staged return to climbing after vaginal or cesarean birth, all illustrated through one climber’s case from early pregnancy to postpartum.
By the end you’ll be able to
- Describe the key physiological changes of pregnancy and how they affect climbing
- Identify contraindications and red flags for climbing during pregnancy and postpartum
- Apply a trimester-based framework to adapt climbing style, equipment and intensity
- Outline a staged return-to-climbing plan after vaginal or cesarean birth
What’s covered
A self-paced, recorded lecture with on-the-wall video demonstrations, in eight short parts. Estimated completion time is shown for each part.
- Intro · ~3 min
Introduction & objectives
Instructors, disclaimer, learning objectives and course roadmap
- Section 1 · ~7 min
Why this matters
The gap in guidance, and what the evidence does and doesn’t say
- Section 2 · ~8 min
Climbing 101
Bouldering, top rope and lead, fall types, loads and pregnancy harnesses
- Section 3 · ~14 min
The pregnant body on the wall
Ligaments, balance, breathing, metabolism, the abdominal wall and pelvic floor
- Section 4 · ~9 min
Screening & red flags
Contraindications, activity check-ins, red flags and working with the OB or midwife
- Section 5 · ~8 min
Adapting climbing by trimester
Climbing style, harness options and training board changes
- Section 6 · ~8 min
Postpartum & return to climbing
Why six weeks isn’t a green light, and a staged return-to-climbing framework
- Wrap-up · ~3 min
Key takeaways & references
Summary of each section and the supporting evidence
Built by climbing physical therapists
Dr. Juliana Merighi
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, RYT-200Founder of Flow State Physical Therapy and a pregnant and postpartum climber specialist. Juliana is a climbing and strength & conditioning coach, a prenatal yoga instructor and educator, and an assistant instructor for Clinical Management of the Rock Climbing Athlete.
Dr. Kevin Cowell
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTFounder of The Climb Clinic in Golden and Boulder and creator of the Cert. CMRCA certification. Kevin works with USA Climbing and USA Para Climbing athletes, is adjunct faculty at Regis University and is the author of DK’s Science of Climbing.
Everything you need to know
Want the full foundation for treating climbing injuries? See the Cert. CMRCA certification, where this course is included.
Course questions
When does the course launch?
The course launches in February 2027. Pre-order now at the early-bird price of $79 (20% off, code EARLYBIRD) and you’ll get access as soon as it goes live. Early-bird pricing ends at launch, when the price returns to $99.
Is it approved for continuing education credit?
CEU approval is pending. We’ll update this page with approval details and state reciprocity once it’s confirmed.
I’m enrolled in Cert. CMRCA. Do I need to buy it?
No. The course is included for Cert. CMRCA participants at no extra cost and will be added to your certification resources when it launches.
Who is this course for?
Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, chiropractors and healthcare students who work with climbers, whether you see one pregnant climber a year or many.
Is this medical advice for pregnant climbers?
No. The course is for educational purposes for clinicians and isn’t a substitute for individualized medical care. Pregnant and postpartum climbers should coordinate their care with their OB, midwife or primary provider.
This course is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Clinicians should practice within their scope and licensure.
Pre-order at the early-bird price
$79 with code EARLYBIRD until launch in February 2027, then $99.