Graduation Date

Summer 2018

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Master of Science degree with a major in Kinesiology, option Exercise Science

Committee Chair Name

Dr. Justus Ortega

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Second Committee Member Name

Dr. Taylor Bloedon

Second Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Third Committee Member Name

Shannon Childs

Third Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Dynamic balance, Rock climbing, Bouldering, Starexcursion balance test

Subject Categories

Kinesiology

Abstract

Climbing requires heavy use of the upper body muscles in the torso and arms to pull the body vertically or traverse horizontally. The upper body profile of climbers has been characterized, however there is little research that has examined the lower body and its contribution to climbing performance. There are studies that have examined postural control while climbing, but no study has evaluated the dynamic balance of the lower extremities in climbers. For this study, lower body dynamic balance was measured using normalized reach distances of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Eighteen adult, indoor climbers (n=12) and non-climbers (n=6) participated in this study. Climbers were designated either Experienced (n=7) or Novice (n=5) based on their reported redpoint ability. Experienced climbers had significantly greater reaches than Novices for the POSTM and MED excursions (p=.045, .002), and significantly greater reaches than Controls for COMP, POST, POSTM, and MED excursions (p=.022, .014, .018, Pp=.023), and in the POSTL and ANTM excursions compared to Controls (p=.027, .011). Novices had smaller symmetry-differences compared to Experienced climbers for COMP and ANTL scores (p=.044, .021). The purpose of this study was to determine lower body dynamic balance in rock climbers with different ability levels. Results of this study partially supported the alternate hypothesis in that Experienced climbers had greater distance in reaches of the SEBT compared to Novices, but only in the POSTM and MED directions.

Citation Style

APA

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