Frontiers in Sports and Active Living | 2026
Authors: da Silva J.M.R.; Sobreviela Sánchez S.; Pucci A.J.A.; Rondon M.U.P.B.; da Fonseca G.W.P.
DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1818579
Journal: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Year: 2026
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Cited by: 0
Background – Indoor climbing can be associated with improvements in muscle strength and cardiorespiratory capacity. However, acute climbing sessions have shown to elicit an excessive hemodynamic response, and chronic vascular adaptations are still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate vascular adaptations and their association with grip strength and hangboard performance after an 18-week bouldering program in participants without prior climbing experience. Methods – Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured with venous occlusion plethysmography. Muscle strength was assessed by handgrip dynamometry, muscle endurance by the dead-hang test, and body composition by air displacement plethysmography. Results – We enrolled 26 controls and 27 novice climbers. At baseline, there was no difference between controls and novice climbers regarding age, sex, body composition, FBF, muscle strength and endurance. Novice climbers showed greater delta improvement in left-hand [5.7 (IQR: −1.6–17.2) vs. −4.1 (IQR: −8.0–1.9) %; p = 0.001], right-hand grip strength [3.8 (IQR: −1.3–13.6) vs. −0.9 (IQR: −6.4–4.5) %; p = 0.011], and hangboard time [23.8 (IQR: 5.1–68.7) vs. 1.8 (IQR: −21.7–13.9) %; p = 0.005]. Novice climbers had better delta changes in FBF [34.0 (IQR: 2.8–54.5) vs. 0.1 (IQR: −23.1–23.6) %; p = 0.010] and forearm vascular conductance [26.5 (IQR: 6.7–66.7) vs. 0.3 (IQR: −23.1–20.2) %; p = 0.011]. A positive correlation was found between delta changes in hangboard time and forearm vascular conductance (r = 0.29; p = 0.041), along with left-hand grip strength (r = 0.28; p = 0.038). Conclusion – In conclusion, an 18-week bouldering program improved handgrip strength, hangboard time and vascular function in participants without prior climbing experience, while gains in hangboard performance were associated with improvements in vascular function. © 2026 da Silva, Sobreviela Sánchez, Pucci, Rondon and da Fonseca.
bouldering; climbing; hangboard performance; hemodynamic response; muscle strength; vascular function