Functional and Performance Determinants in Climbers: Examining the Role of Mobility, Stability, and Fatigue Across Proficiency Levels

NCT06830655 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: NKB/530/2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The primary objective is to understand how motor skills and fatigue affect climbing performance in indoor and outdoor climbers, also comparing elite and amateur climbers. Aims:

• Assess differences in selected joint range of motion, isometric strength, and dynamic stability between elite and intermediate climbers.
• Evaluate the impact of the fatigue protocol on functional performance and cognitive outcomes across climbers of varying skill levels (intermediate vs. advanced).
• Examine the impact of general joint hypermobility, as indicated by Beighton Scores, on functional climbing performance.
• Association between cognitive factors (e.g., attention, memory) and motor skills. Research questions:
• Do elite climbers have better joint mobility and balance than amateur climbers?
• How does fatigue affect performance and reaction time and cognitive function?
• Does having flexible joints (joint hypermobility) make climbers better athletes
• What are the performance differences between indoor and outdoor climbers? This study will help identify key skills and physical traits that improve climbing performance. It will also explore how fatigue and flexibility impact safety and performance in different climbing environments.

Conditions

Fatigue; Joint Hypermobility Syndrome; Climbing Injuries; Cognitive Fatigue

Keywords

Bouldering; Sports Performance Assessment; Climbing-Specific Performance; Hand Grip Strength; Indoor Climbing; Outdoor Climbing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test) Lower and Upper Quarter

  The test will be performed for both the lower and upper body. For the lower body, the participant will begin by standing with one foot on the center foot plate. While maintaining a single-leg stance, the participant will reach with the free leg in one of three directions (anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral) three times, then repeat the process with the opposite leg. The procedure will then be repeated for the remaining directions. The maximal reach distance in each direction will be measured and included in the analysis. For the upper body, the participant will begin by up position of a push up. While maintaining a single-arm push up, the participant will reach with the free arm in on of three directions (medial, inferolateral and superolateral) "cm". Test will be assesed before and after fatigue protocol.

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• ISOMETRIC STRENGTH TEST - Shoulder Internal and External Rotation

  Isometric strength assessments of shoulder internal and external rotations will be conducted using the Lafayette Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD). Participants will be positioned appropriately, in prone and then supine with the shoulder abducted to 90 degrees. The dynamometer will be placed just proximal to the wrist. Participants will be instructed to exert maximal force against the device for a specified duration, 5 seconds. This process will be repeated for multiple trials to ensure consistent and reliable measurements. The Lafayette HHD will provide objective data on muscle strength, facilitating the evaluation and monitoring of participant progress throughout the study. Results will be expressed in newtons (N) or normalized to body weight as newtons per kilogram (N/kg).

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• ISOMETRIC STRENGTH TEST - Pinching

  Pinching a dynamometer. The participant will be seated with the elbow fully extended and the shoulder positioned at 0° flexion. The task will involve exerting maximum force, with separate trials performed for the dominant and non-dominant hand. The dynamometer will be held between the thumb and fingers to measure the force generated, with results recorded in units of force. The emphasis will be on achieving maximum effort to ensure reliable and consistent results. In "kg"

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• RANGE OF MOTION (Shoulder Internal and External Rotation)

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• RANGE OF MOTION (Passive Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (Gastrocnemius muscle flexibility test)

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• Active Ankle Dorsiflexion range of motion (The Weight Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT))

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• Hypermobility - Beighton score

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• Climbing specific foot rise

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

Other Outcomes (8)

• Participants characteristics - Body Mass Index

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• Cognitive Tests - Corsi-block task (total score, %)

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

• Cognitive Tests - Corsi-block task - Reaction Time (RT, in milliseconds)

  through study completion, an average of 2 years

Study Arms (4)

Professional Climbers

EXPERIMENTAL

Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the fatigue protocol.

Other: Fatigue Protocol

Amateur Climbers

EXPERIMENTAL

Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the fatigue protocol.

Other: Fatigue Protocol

Indoor Climbers

EXPERIMENTAL

Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the fatigue protocol.

Other: Fatigue Protocol

Outdoor Climbers

EXPERIMENTAL

Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the fatigue protocol.

Other: Fatigue Protocol

Interventions

Fatigue Protocol OTHER

After the warm-up, each participant will be assigned the easiest route of their skill level on the "Kilter Board" with a 15-degree wall incline. Participants will start the route from the initial holds and finish it with the need to touch the top hold with both hands. They will be instructed to climb as quickly and smoothly as possible. After reaching the last hold, they will descend along the same route to the initial holds without touching the ground. The procedure will be repeated until the participant reports fatigue that prevents further climbing. Any stoppage by the participant during the protocol will not be allowed to last longer than 5 seconds, will be recorded, and categorized as either isometric contraction or rest time, depending on the nature of the stoppage, which will be established during records analyzing.

Amateur Climbers; Indoor Climbers; Outdoor Climbers; Professional Climbers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• primary sport discipline - climbing (bouldering/lead rock or other)
• Healthy (without injury, pain, or symptoms) at the time of the study
• Participation in climbing training (minimum 3 months)

You may not qualify if:

• pain or other symptoms related during study
• rheumatological disease
• neurological disease or balance disorders
• orthopaedic disease
• genetic disease
• cardiovascular system disease
• surgeries of upper and lower limb in the last year
• surgeries of spine in the last year
• a primary sport other than climbing.
• taking medications that may affect balance.
• use of orthopedic supplies during the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical University of Gdansk: lead

Study Sites (2)

Department of Immunobiology and Environment Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk

Gdansk, Gdańsk, 80-211, Poland

Location

Department of Immunobiology and Environment Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk

Gdansk, 80-211, Poland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Bartosz Wilczyński, PhD

  Medical University of Gdansk

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Mateusz Nowosad

  Medical University of Gdansk

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will not be informed about the study's hypotheses comparing elite and intermediate climbers or the specific effects of fatigue on their performance. This ensures that participants perform to the best of their abilities without bias.
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Scientists, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2025
• First Posted: February 17, 2025
• Study Start: February 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Last Updated: March 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PL (2)