Aerobic Profile of Climbers During Maximal Arm Test.

This study compared measurements of upper body aerobic fitness in elite (EC; n = 7) and intermediate rock climbers (1C; n = 7), and a control group (C; n = 7). Subjects underwent an upper limb incremental test on hand cycle ergometer, with increments of 23 W-min"1, until exhaustion. Ventilation (VE) data were smoothed to 10 s averages and plotted against time for the visual determination of the first ( VT1 ) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds. Peak power output was not different among groups [EC= 130.9 (±11.8) W; 1C=122.1 (±28.4) W; C = 115.4 (±15.1) W], but time to exhaustion was significantly higher in EC than 1C and C. VO2Peai< was significantly higher in EC [36.8 (±5.7) mLkg^-1.min^-1] and IC [35.5 (±5.2) mLkg-'.mirT1] than C [28.8 (±5.0) mL.kg^-1.min^-1], but there was no difference between EC and IC. VT1 was significantly higher inECthanC[EC=69.0(±9.4)W;lC = 62.4(±13.0) W; C = 52.1 (±11.8) W], but no significant difference was observed in VT2 [EC = 103.5 (±18.8) W; IC = 92.0 (±22.0) W; C=85.6 (±19.7) W]. These results show that elite indoor rock climbers elicit higher aerobic fitness profile than control subjects when measured with an upper body test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]