Comparison Level of Handgrip Strength, Finger Grip Strength and Anthropometric Measurement among Artificial Wall Athletes

Siti Nursarah Salehhodin,Hanis Mohd Khalid,Borhannudin Abdullah

doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i11/6566

Siti Nursarah Salehhodin, Hanis Mohd Khalid + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i11/6566

Copy DOI

Abstract

Purpose: Sport climbing came about in 1980 as a means of physical and technical training for high performance mountain climbers and it became popular as a competitive and recreational sport activities. The aim of this study were to compare the level of handgrip strength in male athletes between three different categories of climbing (boulder, lead, and speed) during indoor wall climbing competition. Grip strength refers to the ability of the fingers and hand to generate muscle power and force (Chang, Chou, Lin, Lin, & Wang, 2010). Methodology: Ex-post facto because the characteristics tested on the subjects occur naturally and cannot be manipulated. Participants were 123 males (boulders; 41, lead; 41, speed; 41) whose average age is 22.46±4 years. All of them are students of a university in Malaysia. The handgrip strength was measured statically using a hand dynamometer (handgrip). Descriptive statistics was used to compare the different of handgrip strength in three categories. Data from both strength tests were compared for the three categories of climbing using ANOVA. Result: Descriptive data for boulder (M=102.646; SD=14.71), lead (M=92.42; SD=15.88), and speed (M=88.13; SD=16.43) were determined. The findings showed significant differences in handgrip strength score in three categories of climbing [F (2,120) =9.26, p=0.000)]. Data analysis by using post hoc turkey test showed significance difference between boulder and lead (p<0.01), and boulder and speed (p=0.000). Finding and discussion: Conclusion from this study boulder climber are stronger the lead climbers in handgrip strength.

Highlights

Climbing is the sport that has been developing and growing rapidly since the 1980s either place or the number of climbers climbing artificial walls (PnanaCkova, Reply, Bunc, & Giles, 2015)
Somehow boulder show the highest score of handgrip strength but it doesn’t mean there has a better performance during the competition including mental factors (Michailov, Mladenov, & Schoffl, 2009)
Based on the research findings, it is suggested that the further research and insight into the handgrip strength for Malaysia’s climbers to fully understand the performance determining factors in climbing

Summary

Introduction

Climbing is the sport that has been developing and growing rapidly since the 1980s either place or the number of climbers climbing artificial walls (PnanaCkova, Reply, Bunc, & Giles, 2015). Handgrip strength involving the hand and arm muscles is a key component of the athletes involved in the sport including artificial wall climbing, judo, weightlifting, basketball, martial arts, and racquet sports. Lead climbing competition is initiated from below and must climb follow the route are available at the time (6-8 minutes) set depending on the organizers This category is different from bouldering category because climbers need a safety hardness and rope clips on runners in various distance along the route provided (Nick, et al, 2011). This category using the safety rope anchored above the climber at the all times and is commonly used by climbers to beginners (Peter, 2004)

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion