EMS Recovery Effects in Sport Climbing

NCT07336745 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: TSA-2019-4786
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Sport climbing often requires athletes to perform repeated climbing efforts with short rest periods. Over time, fatigue can build up in the muscles of the arms and forearms, which may reduce performance and increase the difficulty of continuing to climb at the same level. This study aims to better understand different recovery methods that climbers may use between climbing efforts. Specifically, the study compares two recovery approaches: electrical muscle stimulation-based recovery and passive recovery (resting while seated). In this study, adult male sport climbers will complete a structured climbing task designed to induce fatigue. After the climbing task, participants will receive one of the two recovery methods. On a separate study visit, they will complete the same procedure using the other recovery method. The order of the recovery methods will be randomized, and there will be a break of one week between sessions. During the study sessions, researchers will record climbing-related performance measures, simple strength and endurance tasks, heart rate, and how hard the participants feel they are working. The information collected will help researchers better understand recovery strategies used in climbing and may inform training and recovery practices for athletes in the future. Participation in the study is voluntary, and all procedures are conducted under controlled laboratory conditions.

Conditions

Exercise-Induced Fatigue; Forearm Muscle Fatigue

Keywords

Sport climbing; Forearm fatigue; Electrical muscle stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Baseline in Total Move Count During the TensionBoard Fatigue Test Following Recovery Intervention

  Total move count represents the number of hand movements completed by each participant during the TensionBoard Fatigue Test, which consists of 15 sets of 1-minute climbs with 1-minute rests on a standardized route (IRCRA grade 15). This measure assesses climbing-specific performance and endurance, reflecting the ability to sustain high-intensity climbing efforts after the fatigue protocol. Move count is recorded for each set, and the change from baseline (pre-recovery) to post-recovery is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention (EMS recovery vs. passive rest).

  Immediately after the 50-minute recovery period following the fatigue protocol.

Study Arms (2)

EMS Recovery (EMSr) Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a standardized climbing fatigue protocol consisting of 15 sets of 1-minute climbs followed by 1-minute rest on a TensionBoard route (IRCRA grade 15). Immediately after the fatigue protocol, participants underwent Electrical Muscle Stimulation-based Recovery (EMSr). EMS was applied to the forearm flexor muscles (flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris) using a Chattanooga Wireless Professional 4CH device with 5×5 cm electrodes. The "Active Recovery" program (2-4-6-5-4-3-2-1 Hz; 50 minutes) was used. Stimulation intensity was individually adjusted to elicit visible muscle contraction without discomfort.The EMSr intervention was designed to facilitate local muscle recovery, maintain climbing-specific performance (total move count, isometric hang time), and reduce performance decrements compared to passive rest.

Device: Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Passive Recovery (PASr) Arm

NO INTERVENTION

Participants completed the same standardized climbing fatigue protocol (15 × 1-minute climbs with 1-minute rest on a TensionBoard route, IRCRA grade 15). Immediately after the fatigue protocol, participants underwent passive recovery (PASr), consisting of 50 minutes of seated rest. No active muscle stimulation or exercise was performed during this period. The PASr arm serves as a control condition to evaluate the effects of EMS-based recovery on climbing-specific performance metrics.

Interventions

Electrical Muscle Stimulation DEVICE

This intervention specifically targets the forearm flexor muscles (flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris) using low-frequency electrical stimulation to promote local muscle recovery after climbing-induced fatigue. The protocol uses a 50-minute "Active Recovery" program (2-4-6-5-4-3-2-1 Hz) applied via a device, with intensity individually adjusted to elicit visible muscle contraction without discomfort. Unlike general active recovery or passive rest, this intervention provides localized neuromuscular stimulation designed to preserve climbing-specific performance metrics such as total move count and weighted isometric hang time.

EMS Recovery (EMSr) Arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male climbers aged 30-36 years.
• At least 3 years of continuous climbing experience, training 3-4 times per week.
• Ability to climb at least IRCRA grade 15 (French 6a) routes.
• In good general health and able to safely perform high-intensity climbing.
• Willing to provide written informed consent and follow study instructions.

You may not qualify if:

• Participation in other sports with high training loads that could interfere with the study.
• Any injury, medical condition, or musculoskeletal problem that limits climbing performance.
• Use of medications or supplements that could affect muscle performance or recovery.
• Inability to comply with study procedures, including the climbing and recovery protocols.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Akdeniz University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Akdeniz University Faculty of Sport Sciences

Antalya, 07058, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2025
• First Posted: January 13, 2026
• Study Start: January 10, 2020
• Primary Completion: January 10, 2021
• Study Completion: July 10, 2021
• Last Updated: January 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2020-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: Start Date: Upon publication of the study results (estimated June 2026) End Date: 5 years after publication (estimated June 2031)
• Access Criteria: Who can access: Qualified researchers from academic or non-commercial research institutions who submit a reasonable request and agree to a data use agreement. What they can access: De-identified individual participant data, including climbing performance metrics (total move count, isometric hang time, push-up and sit-up performance), anthropometric measurements, and details of the recovery protocols (EMS and passive recovery). Supporting documentation, such as the study protocol and data dictionaries, will also be provided. How they can access: Requests must be submitted to the corresponding author (Tuba Melekoğlu, tmelekoglu@akdeniz.edu.tr). Upon approval and signing of a data use agreement, datasets and supporting information will be shared electronically in a secure format.

Locations

TU (1)