Abstract:

Objectives: Climbing, which is a popular sport in recent years, requires high performance and agility levels. The characteristics of climbers are still unclear. This study has been carried out to evaluate the posture and core endurance levels of climbers. Methods: Forty-nine elite climbers (mean age 15.02±2.68 years) and forty-four healthy sedentary controls (mean age 14.48±1.17 years) participated in this study. Postural assessment was conducted with New York Posture Rating Chart. McGill Core Endurance Test was used to assess the core endurance levels of the participants. Results: Of the participants included in the study, 58.2% were male and 41.8% were female. 69.3% of the climbers had been involved in climbing for more than 2 years. No statistically significant differences were found between in age, height, and body weight between the groups (p>0.05). A difference was observed in the core endurance scores between the groups (p<0.05). An increase was seen in the climbers' group when compared to the control group in the scores of the endurance levels of core flexors and right and left lateral core muscles (p<0.05). The postures of the climbers' group were also observed to be deteriorated when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The studies conducted on climbing which has become highly popular in recent years are limited considering the importance of the issue. We believe that including posture exercises and endurance training in the exercise programs of the sportspeople will contribute to their climbing performances as well as their overall health.

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