Abstract
The study aimed to assess the physiological demands of indoor wall climbing in children. Twenty-five children (aged 8–12 years) from a climbing school, with a performance RP (red point) of IV to V+ UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme) scale (5.4 to 5.7 YDS [Yosemite Decimal System] and 4a to 5a Sport/French scale), participated in the study. All 25 children climbed the first vertical route (IV UIAA, 5.4 YDS, 4a Sport/French) and 10 went on to complete the 110° overhanging route (IV+ UIAA, 5.5 YDS, 4b Sport/French). Both routes were climbed in a top rope style, at a self-selected pace. A portable gas analyser was used to assess the physiological response to the climbs. In addition, the time spent climbing by the children was recorded during the subsequent eight-week period. There were no significant differences found in the peak oxygen consumption between boys and girls, or for the route inclinations, with mean values of around 40 ml·kg− 1·min− 1. The children also achieved similarly hi...
Highlights
Regular physical activity and exercise are associated with numerous physical and mental health benefits in men, women and children (Garber et al, 2011)
The research sample consisted of 25 children who had been climbing for 1.5 ± 1.2 years
The climbing ability of the children ranged from IV to V+ UIAA (5.4 to 5.7 YDS, 4a to 5a Sport/French), which classified them among Lower Grade (Level 1) climbers, according to grading scales produced by Draper et al (2011)
Summary
Regular physical activity and exercise are associated with numerous physical and mental health benefits in men, women and children (Garber et al, 2011). Sport climbing has developed rapidly since the 80’s, as demonstrated by the increasing number of both climbing walls and climbers. In France, there were five climbing walls in 1980, 54 in 1986, 600 in 1989 and 2266 in 2013 (Bourdeau, 1991; "Carte des murs d'escalade," 2013). School climbing walls were not included in this figure and may increase the total number, as 14% of British school have integrated indoor climbing into their curriculum (Gardner, 2013). Children and youth (up to the age of 26) are the most frequent users of climbing walls and, according to FFME, represent more than half of sport climbers (La Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade, 2014)
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