The physiologic profile of climbers during specific and aspecific aerobic exercise

Aim: Very limited research has been performed on the involvement of the cardiorespiratory system during indoor sport climbing compared to a cyclic type of aerobic exercise (cycling or running). It is conceivable that the involvement of various muscle groups and the non-cyclical kind of effort of climbing exercise may result in a different physiological demand in relation to the effort intensity. Thus, this study aimed: i) to assess the cardiorespiratory and mertabolic responses during treadwall climbing at steady-state condition with different workloads, and ii) to compare the cardiorespiratory involvement during climbing with that during cycling aerobic activity. Method: Thirteen expert climbers (age: 27 ± 5 years; body mass: 69.7 ± 7.2 kg; stature: 179 ± 7 cm; mean ± SD) whit a personal best ascent ranging from 7b+ to 8b+, performed in a random order two maximal square-wave tests on a treadwall (Rotor, Climblock) and on a cycloergometer (Monark, 839E). Oxygen uptake (VO2), expiratory ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (R) were collected breath-by-breath. Blood lactate concentration [La] and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were also assessed at the end of each workload. Results: With respect to cycling exercise, during climbing: VO2 and HR were significantly higher at low workload while no difference were retrieved at maximal exercise intensity (VO2 : 3207 ± 128 and 3375 ± 113 ml/min; HR: 186 ± 2 and 183 ± 4 bpm in treadwall and cycle exercise, respectively). VE was significantly lower and R higher at all intensities (P< 0.05). Interestingly, RPE values were higher and [La] lower at minor exercise intensities while, at maximal exercise, RPE was lower and [La] higher with respect to cycle effort (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The present study is the first that analyze, utilizing an specific device, the metabolic, cardiovascular and respiratory involvement during climbing exercise in the steady state condition at different workloads. Collectively, the present findings reflect a climbers physiological profile markedly different with respect to cycling aerobic exercise, which opens interesting perspectives for investigating exercise efficiency during vertical progression.