Differences in Upper-Body Peak Force and Rate of Force Development in Male Intermediate, Advanced, and Elite Sport Climbers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in climbing-specific strength and rate of force development (RFD) between intermediate, advanced, and elite male sport climbers. Seventy-eight male climbers were recruited and divided into groups based on the International Rock Climbing Research Association (IRCRA) numerical (1-32) grading system (intermediate (10-17) group (IG; <i>n</i> = 28)), advanced (18-23) group (AG; <i>n</i> = 30) and elite (24-27) group (EG; <i>n</i> = 20). Peak force (<i>F</i> _peak) and average force (<i>F</i> _avg) were measured while performing an isometric pull-up on a 23 mm thick campus rung. RFD was calculated from the onset of force to maximal peak force. The elite group performed better in all test parameters than the advanced (<i>F</i> _peak: 39.7%, ES = 1.40, <i>p</i> < 0.001; <i>F</i> _avg: 45.6%, ES = 4.60, <i>p</i> < 0.001; RFD: 74.9%, ES = 1.42, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and intermediate group (<i>F</i> _peak: 95.7%, ES = 2.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>F</i> _avg: 131.1%, ES = 5.84, <i>p</i> < 0.001, RFD: 154.4%, ES = 2.21, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Moreover, the advanced group demonstrated greater <i>F</i> _peak (40.1%, ES = 1.24, <i>p</i> < 0.001), <i>F</i> _avg (59.1%, ES = 1.57, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and RFD (45.5%, ES = 1.42, <i>p</i> = 0.046), than the intermediate group. Finally, climbing performance displayed strong correlations with <i>F</i> _peak (<i>r</i> = 0.73, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and <i>F</i> _avg (<i>r</i> = 0.77, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and a moderate correlation with RFD (<i>r</i> = 0.64, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, maximal force and RFD in a climbing specific test are greater among climbers on higher performance levels. Independent of climbing level there is a moderate-to-strong association between maximal and rapid force production and climbing performance.