Abstract
The aim of this publication is to provide an overview of current scientific studies on climbing performance. To date there have been more than 300 studies completed on the topic, exploring almost all aspects of the sport.
The book is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter introduces basic climbing specific terms.
The second chapter outlines the place of climbing in ancient cultures and offers a historical perspective on the sport. The third chapter covers major milestones in the evolution of our understanding of rock climbing performance.
A model for the classification of climbing disciplines and their commonalities is proposed. The fourth chapter deals with the structure of rock climbing performance and discussed the importance of key performance factors.
The fifth chapter is devoted to the anthropometric and functional characteristics of sport climbers, focusing on body composition, muscular strength, aerobic fitness, flexibility and balance. The sixth chapter deals with physiological responses of the organism to climbing exercise.
It discusses reactive and adaptive processes, especially of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. The seventh chapter presents the general principles of physiological adaptations to stress and their application in training.
Specific climbing related studies are presented where the training of strength, power, power-endurance and endurance are discussed; the mechanisms of fatigue and recovery are also introduced. The eighth chapter discusses health aspects of rock climbing in terms of both its positive and negative impacts.
The application of climbing in fitness and rehabilitation programmes are also documented, including their main limitations. Finally, it provides an overview of the most common injuries, with particular emphasis on the upper extremities.
To conclude the book a current perspective on further research in the field of exercise physiology in sport climbing is offered.