Fatigue Protocol: After the warm-up, each participant will be assigned the easiest route of their skill level on the "Kilter Board" with a 15-degree wall incline. Participants will start the route from the initial holds and finish it with the need to touch the top hold with both hands. They will be instructed to climb as quickly and smoothly as possible. After reaching the last hold, they will descend along the same route to the initial holds without touching the ground. The procedure will be repeated until the participant reports fatigue that prevents further climbing. Any stoppage by the participant during the protocol will not be allowed to last longer than 5 seconds, will be recorded, and categorized as either isometric contraction or rest time, depending on the nature of the stoppage, which will be established during records analyzing.
Study summary
The primary objective is to understand how motor skills and fatigue affect climbing performance in indoor and outdoor climbers, also comparing elite and amateur climbers.
Aims:
* Assess differences in selected joint range of motion, isometric strength, and dynamic stability between elite and intermediate climbers.
* Evaluate the impact of the fatigue protocol on functional performance and cognitive outcomes across climbers of varying skill levels (intermediate vs. advanced).
* Examine the impact of general joint hypermobility, as indicated by Beighton Scores, on functional climbing performance.
* Association between cognitive factors (e.g., attention, memory) and motor skills.
Research questions:
* Do elite climbers have better joint mobility and balance than amateur climbers?
* How does fatigue affect performance and reaction time and cognitive function?
* Does having flexible joints (joint hypermobility) make climbers better athletes
* What are the performance differences between indoor and outdoor climbers?
This study will help identify key skills and physical traits that improve climbing performance. It will also explore how fatigue and flexibility impact safety and performance in different climbing environments.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
15 Years
Max age
45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* primary sport discipline - climbing (bouldering/lead rock or other)
* Healthy (without injury, pain, or symptoms) at the time of the study
* Participation in climbing training (minimum 3 months)
Exclusion Criteria:
* pain or other symptoms related during study
* rheumatological disease
* neurological disease or balance disorders
* orthopaedic disease
* genetic disease
* cardiovascular system disease
* surgeries of upper and lower limb in the last year
* surgeries of spine in the last year
* a primary sport other than climbing.
* taking medications that may affect balance.
* use of orthopedic supplies during the study
Primary outcome measure(s)
Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test) Lower and Upper Quarter — through study completion, an average of 2 years The test will be performed for both the lower and upper body. For the lower body, the participant will begin by standing with one foot on the center foot plate. While maintaining a single-leg stance, the participant will reach with the free leg in one of three directions (anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral) three times, then repeat the process with the opposite leg. The procedure will then be repeated for the remaining directions. The maximal reach distance in each direction will be measured and included in the analysis. For the upper body, the participant will begin by up position of a push up. While maintaining a single-arm push up, the participant will reach with the free arm in on of three directions (medial, inferolateral and superolateral) "cm". Test will be assesed before and after fatigue protocol.
ISOMETRIC STRENGTH TEST - Shoulder Internal and External Rotation — through study completion, an average of 2 years Isometric strength assessments of shoulder internal and external rotations will be conducted using the Lafayette Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD). Participants will be positioned appropriately, in prone and then supine with the shoulder abducted to 90 degrees. The dynamometer will be placed just proximal to the wrist. Participants will be instructed to exert maximal force against the device for a specified duration, 5 seconds. This process will be repeated for multiple trials to ensure consistent and reliable measurements. The Lafayette HHD will provide objective data on muscle strength, facilitating the evaluation and monitoring of participant progress throughout the study. Results will be expressed in newtons (N) or normalized to body weight as newtons per kilogram (N/kg).
ISOMETRIC STRENGTH TEST - Pinching — through study completion, an average of 2 years Pinching a dynamometer. The participant will be seated with the elbow fully extended and the shoulder positioned at 0° flexion. The task will involve exerting maximum force, with separate trials performed for the dominant and non-dominant hand. The dynamometer will be held between the thumb and fingers to measure the force generated, with results recorded in units of force. The emphasis will be on achieving maximum effort to ensure reliable and consistent results. In "kg"
Trial sites (2)
Facility
City
Region
Status
Department of Immunobiology and Environment Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk
Department of Immunobiology and Environment Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk
Gdansk
Poland
More Medical University of Gdansk trials in Poland
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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