Lean and mean? Associations of level of performance, chronic injuries and BMI in sport climbing

• Main Author: Gudmund Grønhaug
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-10-01
• Series: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
• Online Access: https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000437.full

ObjectivesTo assess possible associations between performance level (achieved level of difficulty), chronic injuries and body mass index (BMI) in sport climbing.MethodRetrospective survey.SettingWeb-based questionnaire.Participants667 active climbers (385 reported having chronic injuries).Outcome measureBMI, performance level in sport climbing, onset of a climbing-related injury, preferred style of climbing, education, gender.StatisticsDescriptive statistics and general linear model(GLM) performed with SPSS V.25 for windows.ResultNo associations were found between level of performance in sport climbing, onset of a climbing-related injury, preferred style of climbing, education, gender and BMI.ConclusionBMI is not associated with climbing-related chronic injury or level of performance in climbing. The average BMI of climbers up to the elite level is similar to that of a lower rate of performance.Clinical relevanceThe findings in this study suggest that there is no need for maintaining a low BMI to be able to reach elite levels in climbing.