Higher Endeavors

Rock climbing is a hobby, or sport, that requires one to use their hands, feet, and ultimately their entire body to scale walls both short and long. The routes may have varying levels of difficulty determined by the size and placement of holds and degree of pitch. Regardless of these facts, individuals still use their own bodies to climb. Why is it, then, that people think the general rules of physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition do not apply to climbers?

Photo Credit: climblikesharma.com

Reading rock climbing magazines and websites offering advice to their readers can be  both shocking and frustrating. The writers do not mean any harm with their writings but at times they are quite misguiding with their recommendations. Rock climbers do not live in a bubble where the body performs too differently from other individuals. However, there are still odd recommendations with respect to training, improving performance, nutritional needs, among many other topics pertaining to rock climbing.