Changes in grip strength of boulder climbers in the South East of England compared to the general population of the UK and the potential links this may have to mortality.
Item
- Title
- Changes in grip strength of boulder climbers in the South East of England compared to the general population of the UK and the potential links this may have to mortality.
- Author(s)
- Whitehouse, R
- Abstract
- Background: Boulder climbing is one of the quickest growing sports worldwide. High levels of grip strength (GS) are required. Improvements in GS have been researched for elite individuals but not tracked across different ages. Raised GS has been linked to reduced mortality risks and is potentially a better determinate of all-cause mortality than systolic blood-pressure. Objective: To analyse the changes observed in GS of 200+ male boulder climbers. To compare results against GS averages in the UK. To compare the above to literature conducted into GS and mortality rates. Design: Observational study. Methods: Boulder climbers aged 18yrs+ where recruited. Demographics/ anthropometrics were identified; age, height, weight, years of climbing experience and maximum boulder grade. A maximal contraction of the forearm flexors was conducted and repeated to obtain a mean. Data was analysed both intrinsically and against a national average. Significance and correlation were explored. Results: Results from 213, boulder climbers (18-68yrs) where captured. Significance was observed between ‘climbing grade’/’years climbing’ against GS (p=0.0001/0.0004). Changes in GS against age showed positive correlation between 15-39yrs (r=0.538) and negative correlation 40-69yrs (r = -0.222). Climber’s GS was significantly higher than the average population (p = 0.001-0.009) except in those climbing for <1 year where significance was only observed in those aged 15-39yrs (p = 0.001-0.006) and not 40-59yrs (p = 0.3679-0.4060). Discussion: Results are representative of previous research into GS of climbers. This present study analysed a larger age range finding these improvements take longer to manifest aged 40+yrs. The increased GS observed in climbers would suggest them to be at a lower risk of selected mortality concerns. Conclusion: This study has shown boulder climbing to be an effective intervention to significantly increase GS. This was linked to reduced rick of cardiac, vascular, cerebrovascular events and increases in quality of life. Further research would track the prevalence of these issues.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2020
- Date Submitted
- 28.10.2020 18:08:19
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16699
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Climbing; Grip Strength; Mortality; Observational study.
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Whitehouse, R, “Changes in grip strength of boulder climbers in the South East of England compared to the general population of the UK and the potential links this may have to mortality.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/904