Physical fitness of elite youth sports climbers: Gender differences and correlates of climbing ability

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11510%2F25%3A10499087" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11510/25:10499087 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=cgX66vD_eP" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=cgX66vD_eP</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2025-0019" target="_blank" >10.2478/bhk-2025-0019</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Physical fitness of elite youth sports climbers: Gender differences and correlates of climbing ability

Original language description

Study aim: This study assessed gender-based differences in physical fitness and the relationships between fitness variables and climbing performance among elite youth sports climbers.Material and methods: The research sample included 20 climbers: 11 female (age: 14.82 +/- 1.47 years; body mass: 50.92 +/- 5.91 kg; body height: 164.27 +/- 5.33 cm) and 9 male (age: 14.67 +/- 1.41 years; body mass: 57.36 +/- 3.67 kg; body height: 173.44 +/- 5.71 cm). Generic fitness tests included jump ergometry, the Y-balance test and the adapted Grant foot-raise test. Sport-specific tests included hangboard assessments (maximum finger hang, rate of force development (RFD) and hang time), pull-ups and toe-to-bar exercises. Independent t-tests identified gender differences, while Pearson&apos;s correlation coeffcients assessed variable relationships.Results: Males outperformed females in the squat jump (p = 0.04) and countermovement jump (p = 0.03), and the RFD test for the right hand (p = 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that in females, climbing performance was associated with Y-balance test scores (right leg: r = 0.79; left leg: r = 0.87), maximum finger strength (left hand: r = 0.76, p &lt; 0.01), maximum relative force (r = 0.80, p &lt; 0.01), and hang time (r = 0.65, p &lt; 0.05). In males, lead climbing correlated with hang time (r = 0.71, p &lt; 0.01) and bouldering with RFD (left hand: r = 0.76, p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: These findings reveal significant gender differences and gender-specific performance predictors, highlighting the need for tailored training programmes during developmental stages.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

30306 - Sport and fitness sciences

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Biomedical Human Kinetics

ISSN

2080-2234

e-ISSN

2080-2234

Volume of the periodical

17

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

PL - POLAND

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

197-207

UT code for WoS article

001512980800002

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105009297032