Fit-climbing test: a field test for indoor rock climbing

J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Jun;26(6):1558-63. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318231ab37.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop an indoor rock-climbing test on an artificial wall (Fit-climbing test). Thirteen climbers (elite group [EG] = 6; recreational group [RG] = 7) performed the following tests: (a) familiarization in the Fit-climbing test, (b) the Fit-climbing test, and (c) a retest to evaluate the Fit-climbing test's reliability. Gas exchange, blood lactate concentration, handgrip strength, and heart rate were measured during the test. Oxygen uptake during the Fit-climbing test was not different between groups (EG = 8.4 ± 1.1 L; RG = 7.9 ± 1.5 L, p > 0.05). The EG performance (120 ± 7 movements) was statistically higher than the RG climbers' performance (78 ± 13 movements) during the Fit-climbing test. Consequently, the oxygen cost per movement during the Fit-climbing test of the EG was significantly lower than that of the RG (p < 0.05). Handgrip strength was higher in the EG when compared with that in the RG in both pre-Fit- and post-Fit-climbing test (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in any other variables analyzed during the Fit-climbing test (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the performance in the Fit-climbing test presented high reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97). Therefore, the performance during the Fit-climbing test may be an alternative to evaluate rock climbers because of its specificity and relation to oxygen cost per movement during climbing.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lactates / blood*
  • Mountaineering / physiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology*
  • Physical Endurance / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Task Performance and Analysis*

Substances

  • Lactates