title: A comparison of the anthropometric, strength, endurance and flexibility characteristics of female elite and recreational climbers and non-climbers.
abstract: There is limited information on the anthropometry, strength, endurance and flexibility of female rock climbers. The aim of this study was to compare these characteristics in three groups of females: Group 1 comprised 10 elite climbers aged 31.3 +/- 5.0 years (mean +/- s) who had led to a standard of 'hard very severe'; Group 2 consisted of 10 recreational climbers aged 24.1 +/- 4.0 years who had led to a standard of 'severe'; and Group 3 comprised 10 physically active individuals aged 28.5 +/- 5.0 years who had not previously rock-climbed. The tests included finger strength (grip strength, finger strength measured on climbing-specific apparatus), flexibility, bent arm hang and pull-ups. Regression procedures (analysis of covariance) were used to examine the influence of body mass, leg length, height and age. For finger strength, the elite climbers recorded significantly higher values (P < 0.05) than the recreational climbers and non-climbers (four fingers, right hand: elite 321 +/- 18 N, recreational 251 +/- 14 N, non-climbers 256 +/- 15 N; four fingers, left hand: elite 307 +/- 14 N, recreational 248 +/- 12 N, non-climbers 243 +/- 11 N). For grip strength of the right hand, the elite climbers recorded significantly higher values than the recreational climbers only (elite 338 +/- 12 N, recreational 289 +/- 10 N, non-climbers 307 +/- 11 N). The results suggest that elite climbers have greater finger strength than recreational climbers and non-climbers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Aitchison
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whittaker
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D018583:Pliability; D011998:Recreation / Q000502:physiology*