Cardiopulmonary exercise tests of adolescent elite sport climbers – a comparison of the German junior national team in sport climbing and Nordic skiing

Isabelle Schöffl; Jan Wüstenfeld; Gareth Jones; Sven Dittrich; Chris Lutter; Volker Schöffl

doi:10.5604/01.3001.0014.7755

Authors

Isabelle Schöffl Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; Section of Sportsmedicine and Sports Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, Germany; School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, UK
Jan Wüstenfeld Insitute for Applied Exercise Science, University Leipzig, Germany
Gareth Jones School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, UK
Sven Dittrich Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Chris Lutter Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Rostock, Germany
Volker Schöffl Section of Sportsmedicine and Sports Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, Germany; School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, UK; Department of Emergency Medicine, Section Wilderness Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, USA; ; Department of Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-AlexanderUniversity, Erlanger-Nüremberg, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.7755

Keywords:

cardiopulmonary exercise testing, adolescent athlete, VO2peak, cardiopulmonary capacity in climbing

Abstract

Introduction: All the research investigating the cardiopulmonary capacity in climbers is focused on predictors for climbing performance. The effects of climbing on the cardiovascular system in adolescents climbing at an elite level (national team) have not been evaluated.Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) performed on a cycle ergometer during the annual medical examination of the entire German Junior National climbing team on one occasion and for a selected subgroup on two occasions spaced two years apart. The data from the subgroup was compared to an age- and gender-matched control of Nordic skiers from the German Junior National Nordic skiing team.
Results: 47 climbers (20 girls, 27 boys) were examined once. The VO2peak achieved by the athletes was 41.3 mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ (boys) and 39.8 mL kg−1 min−1 (girls). 8 boys and 6 girls were tested twice over a period of 27.5 months. The parameters of the exercise test measured on both occasions were significantly lower than those of the 8 male and 6 female Nordic skiers. There was no change with respect to any variables (e.g. VO_2peak, peak work load, peak heart rate, peak lactate or O₂ pulse) over the examined period.
Conclusions: The elite climbers investigated in this study showed comparable VO_2peak values to athletes from team and combat sports. The Nordic skiers to which they were compared showed significantly higher values consistant with the fact that this is an endurance sport. Even though the cardiopulmonary measurements of the Nordic skiers still improved after two years of training, no adaptations could be observed in the elite climbers.

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