Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the association between the number of metres climbed per week and the health oriented fitness. The total of 257 male and 126 female climbers volunteered in the strength testing and completing a questionnaire.
Twenty seven males and fourteen females from these subjects took part in the energy expenditure assessment. The results showed a strong relationship (R2 = 0.45) between the number of vertical metres climbed and grip strength in females, however, this relationship was not practically significant in males (R2 = 0.15).
A high level of association between climbing volume and the bent-arm hang was stated for females (R2 = 0.33) and males (R2 = 0.27). The average energy expenditure in vertical climbing was 0.594 ± 0.077 kJ•kg-1•min-1 in males and 0,527 ± 0,048 kJ•kg-1•min-1 in females, at the overhanging inclination 0,678 ± 0,094 kJ•kg-1•min-1 in males and 0,579 ± 0,056 kJ•kg-1•min-1 in females.
The results demonstrated that sport climbing may lead to maintain or to increase the upper-body strength with the climbing volume from around 80 vertical metres climbed per week. The energy cost of recreational climbing corresponds to the other aerobic activities as running, swimming or cycling.
To maintain or to increase the cardiovascular fitness, the volume of 400-500 vertical metres climbed per week at least has to be completed.