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Hormone responses to a continuous bout of rock climbing in men

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Abstract

Rock climbing is rapidly increasing in popularity as a recreational activity and as a competitive sport. Few studies have tested acute physiological responses to climbing, and no studies to date have tested hormone responses to a climbing-based workout. This study aimed to measure testosterone (T), growth hormone (GH), and cortisol (C) responses to continuous vertical climbing in young male rock climbers. Ten male rock climbers, aged between 21 and 30 years, climbed laps on a submaximal 55′ climbing route for 30 min, or until exhaustion, whichever came first. Heart rate (HR) was recorded after every lap. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture before (Pre), immediately post (IP), and 15 min after the climbing exercise (P15) to assess blood lactate and plasma GH, T, and C. Subjects climbed 24.9 ± 1.9 min and 507.5 ± 82.5 feet. Peak HR was 182.1 ± 2.3 bpm, and lactate (Pre: 2.9 ± 0.6 mmol/dL, IP: 11.1 ± 1.0 mmol/dL) significantly (P < 0.05) increased from Pre to IP. T concentrations significantly (P < 0.05) increased from Pre (6.04 ± 0.31 ng/mL) to IP (7.39 ± 0.40 ng/mL) and returned to baseline at P15 (6.23 ± 0.33 ng/mL). Cortisol levels did not significantly change during the protocol. GH significantly (P < 0.01) increased from Pre (0.63 ± 0.17 ng/mL) to IP (19.89 ± 4.53 ng/mL) and remained elevated at P15 (15.03 ± 3.89 ng/mL). An acute, short-term bout of high-intensity continuous climbing was an effective exercise stimulus for elevating plasma testosterone and growth hormone levels in young males.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded through the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Enrichment Grant, Graduate College Robberson Research Grant, and Graduate Student Senate Research Grant. We would like to thank L. Kathleen Cargill, Alina Joaca-Bine, Bethany James, Carmen Chrisman, and Jessica Smith for their assistance in data collection. We would also like to acknowledge and thank Aaron Gibson and Rocktown Climbing Gym for allowing us to conduct our research in their gym. Finally, thank you to the climbers that participated or belayed in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, 1401 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Vanessa D. Sherk, Kyle A. Sherk, SoJung Kim, Kaelin C. Young & Debra A. Bemben

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  1. Vanessa D. Sherk
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  2. Kyle A. Sherk
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  3. SoJung Kim
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  4. Kaelin C. Young
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  5. Debra A. Bemben
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Correspondence to Debra A. Bemben.

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Communicated by Susan Ward.

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Sherk, V.D., Sherk, K.A., Kim, S. et al. Hormone responses to a continuous bout of rock climbing in men. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 687–693 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1685-2

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