title: Physiological responses in rock climbing with repeated ascents over a 10-week period.
abstract: The purpose was to analyze the physiological responses and energy expenditure during repeated ascents of the same climbing route over a 10-week period. Nine climbers completed nine ascents of a specific route spaced 1 week apart. Expired air was analyzed continuously during each ascent, and time of ascent was recorded to the nearest second. Energy expenditure during climbing (EE(CLM)), and during climbing +10 min recovery (EE(TOT)) was calculated by the Weir and Zuntz equations. Differences among ascents 1, 4, 6 and 9 were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Climbing time was longer for ascent 1 compared with ascents 4, 6 and 9 (P < 0.001). Differences were found for EE(CLM) (kcal; P < 0.001), between ascent 1 versus 6 and 9 and ascent 4 versus 9, using both Zuntz and Weir equations. Also, differences were observed in EE for recovery (P < 0.05) and EE(TOT) (P < 0.05) using both equations. Repeated ascents of a climbing route decreased the climbing time and absolute energy expenditure during climbing. Initially, the decrease in climbing energy expenditure is accompanied by an increase in energy expenditure during recovery; however, by the ninth ascent, the total energy expenditure of the task is lower than for ascent 1.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Science Laboratory, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA. vanespa@ugr.es
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: España-Romero
authors.forename: Randall L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
authors.forename: Jay E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Szekely
authors.forename: Phillip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult