Anthropometric Characteristics and Anaerobic Power of Lower Limbs and Their Relationships With Race Time in Female Speed Climbers

Abstract

Previous research indicates that high results in speed climbing are determined by a high level of explosive strength and muscle power in the lower limbs. However, a literature review shows that no studies have analysed women practicing this climbing discipline. Therefore, the main goal of the study was to assess the level of development of physique and the level of explosive strength and muscle power of the lower limbs of female speed climbers at a representative level. Furthermore, an attempt was made to analyse the relationships between the variables studied and race time in female speed climbers.The study included 5 female players (speed climbers) who were members of the national team in 2016. The measurements were made during the Polish National Team Camp. The analysis was based on the results of the fastest races expressed in seconds. The measurements and indices computed in the study included body height, body weight, lean body mass, BMI and ponderal index. The assessment of the power of the lower limbs was carried out using two jump tests: CMJ with arm swing and CMJ. Power was expressed relative to body weight and to lean body mass.The highest relationships with race time were recorded for body height (r = 0.94, p <0.05), body weight (r = 0.96, p <0.01) and lean body mass (LBM) ( r = 0.98, p <0.01). Strong but statistically insignificant relationships were recorded between race time and power indicators of the lower limbs (correlations above r = -0.66).In female speed climbing, race time can be determined by the level of physique. Smaller body size can allow female climbers to perform faster and achieve better times in speed climbing. It can be suggested that in female speed climbing, a high level of maximum alactic anaerobic capacity of the lower limbs is an important factor that affects race time. The results of our own research suggest that in female speed climbing, specific body characteristics may to a greater extent determine the race time compared to anaerobic maximum power of the lower limbs.

Value of Speed Capabilities in Youth Speed Climbing at High Sports Level

“…Speed climbing consists in covering the competition distance in the shortest possible time. Current research indicates that in speed climbing the important motor factors determining sports success are: a high level of explosive strength and a high level of lower limb muscle power (Krawczyk, Ozimek, & Rokowski, 2015;Krawczyk, Ozimek, Rokowski, Pociecha, & Draga, 2017;Krawczyk & Ozimek, 2014;Krawczyk, Ozimek, Rokowski, Pociecha, & Draga, 2018). Some studies have shown that body proportions can be of considerable importance in sport climbing Tomaszewski, Gajewski, & Lewandowska, 2011).…”

Analysis of energy requirements and nutritional needs of rock climbing athletes

“…Young climbers, show a slimmer body shape and fall into the ideal or normal category (Michael et al, 2019b). Smaller body sizes allow the climber to perform faster and achieve better times in speed climbing (Krawczyk et al, 2018). The results of this study indicated that the height of rock climbing athletes is more supportive in the speed climbing category.…”

“…Rock climbing is a sport that is increasingly popular in the world (Michael et al, 2019a;Michael et al, 2019b) as evidenced by the increased interest after rock climbing became one of the sports contested the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which consists of three categories, namely boulder, speed, and lead climbing (Krawczyk et al, 2018;Pyszczek et al, 2019). The competition format combines the three rock climbing categories (combined format) during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Krawczyk et al, 2018).…”

“…Rock climbing is a sport that is increasingly popular in the world (Michael et al, 2019a;Michael et al, 2019b) as evidenced by the increased interest after rock climbing became one of the sports contested the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which consists of three categories, namely boulder, speed, and lead climbing (Krawczyk et al, 2018;Pyszczek et al, 2019). The competition format combines the three rock climbing categories (combined format) during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Krawczyk et al, 2018). Rock climbing is classified as a complex sport because the dynamics of the climber's activity and the work of muscle energy used have aerobic and anaerobic features that participate in the production of adenosine triphosphate (Simič et al, 2022), so it is necessary to plan individual nutrition according to the climber's training and minimize the risk of injury (Pyszczek et al, 2019).…”

Predicting Performance in Speed Climbing: Accuracy of the Force-Velocity Test on a Cycle Ergometer

“…Recent studies showed that the main bioenergetic source in speed climbing is the anaerobic lactate system (Krawczyk et al, 2018). Furthermore, some research showed that anaerobic power are factor which may affects the sport results in speed climbing .…”