Schulte-Wörman D, Fromme A, Mooren FCh, Thorwesten L, Völker K
Abstract in digital collection (conference)
Climbing represents both an extremely competitive and a typical leisure sport. In previous studies, heart rate, V02max and lactate were measured as characteristic parameters of the static and dynamic total body stress. The purpose of this study was the analysis of blood pressure reaction during specific climbing exercises. 30 active sport climbers (mean age 25.6 years) with an average performance level of 7 + to 8-(UJM scale) performed to exhaustion a standardized climbing sequence (9 sec climbing action, 3 sec rest) at a 35° overhanging wall with !arge handies. Blood pressure was continuously measured from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after exercise at the left middle finger by indirect servo-plethysrnomanometry in beat to beat mode. At the beginning of climbing, systolic and diastolic blood pressure maxima continuously increasecl, then reached a plateau of about 1.6 times the pre-exercise level and increased again at the end of exercise in combination with the Valsalva mechanism. During short exercise tests, a constant blood pressure level could not be observed. The average of the blood pressure maxima was 236/161 mmHg (heart rate 177/min) with an absolute individual maximum of 358/210 mmHg (heartrate 222/min). After exercise, blood pressure returned to the preexercise level within a few seconds, followed by a short post pressoric increase of about 25 mm Hg. This study demonstrates that sport climbing causes a high cardiocirculatory stress. We could not find any relationship between blood pressure reaction ancl performancelevel. In seniors and especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases, preventive check-ups are recommended.
Publisher: Halle M
Book title: International Journal of Sport Medicine
Release year: 1999
Publishing company: Thieme Verlag
Language in which the publication is written: English
Event: Stuttgart