02 Oct 2018
Harry’s Climbing High
Our very own rock climber Harry takes to the ropes for a spot of rock climbing. Harry attends “The Castle Climbing Centre” in the Manor House twice a week which Harry visits twice a week.
Harry’s rock climbing skills have come along over the last few months and his strength is improving all the time, but aside from the physical benefits, we have found his mental health has benefited too. Below is an article we have found about the Mental Health benefits which rock climbing can bring.
Strengthen Your Mind
Whether you are a serious or beginner rock climber, you can reap some serious health benefits by participating in this sport. Not only does rock climbing provide physical benefits, such as building endurance, muscle and flexibility, but climbing can also be beneficial to both the brain and mental health; rock climbing is known to reduce stress and have positive outcomes on mental strength.
Some forms of climbing include:
Bouldering: This form of climbing is done without the use of ropes, at low heights; typically safety mats are utilized.
Sports Climbing: Climbers who participate in sports climbing will clip into bolts which are placed on the faces of the rock.
Soloing: Solo climbers climb, well, solo. Not only does this include climbing alone, but it also typically excludes the use of a rope.
Traditional or “trad” climbing: Trad climbers, will have their own safety gear and climb unmarked routes.
Ice climbing: Ice climbers climb on ice-covered surfaces, such as rock and frozen waterfalls.
Climbing Walls: These stacked panels offer a vertical and horizontal climb option, which can be installed both indoors and out.
Climbing as a Total Body Workout
Climbing will provide you with a total body workout, incorporating the use of several muscle groups simultaneously. During a rock climb, you can expect to engage your abdominals, obliques, deltoids, trapezius muscles, biceps, latissimus dorsi, quadriceps, calves and even your fingers. Additionally, rock climbing provides a cardiovascular workout, increasing the body’s heart rate, with a similar calorie burn of running an 8– 11-minute mile. In fact, one study showed that in children, rock climbing elicited similar energy expenditure as other cardiovascular activities such as stair climbing, sports activities and jogging.
Due to the overall cardiovascular workout associated with rock climbing, the benefits extend further than muscle tone. Other health benefits include the risk reduction of certain chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Those with the developmental coordination disorder, dyspraxia, may also benefit from the muscle development benefits of climbing, specifically in the upper limbs.
Mental Health and Wellness Benefits of Rock Climbing
Due to the complexity of rock climbing, skills such as problem-solving, hand-eye coordination and judgement are developed and enhanced during participation in the sport. Climbing may also provide participants with the ability to conquer fears, build confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance, all while developing social connections. Stress levels can also be reduced due to the release of norepinephrine and exposure to higher levels of Vitamin D (during outdoor excursions). Because of the physical nature of rock climbing, symptoms of depression may also be improved.