Climbing time to exhaustion is a determinant of climbing performance in high-level sport climbers.

We studied which physiological and kinanthropometric characteristics determine climbing performance in 16 high-level sports climbers aged 29.9 +/- 4.9 years. Body composition parameters were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner. We also measured kinanthropometric and physical fitness parameters. The sex-specific 75th percentile value of onsight climbing ability was used to divide the sample into expert (<75th) and elite (> or =75th) climbers. All the analyses were adjusted by sex. The 75th percentile value of onsight climbing ability was 7b in women and 8b in men. There were no differences between expert and elite climbers in the studied variables, except in climbing time to exhaustion and bone mineral density. Elite climbers had a significantly higher time to exhaustion than the expert group (770.2 +/- 385 vs. 407.7 +/- 150 s, respectively, P = 0.001). These results suggest that, among climbers with a high level of performance, as those analysed in this study, climbing time to exhaustion is a major determinant of climbing performance.

[Improvement of physical fitness as anti-aging intervention]. / Mejora de la forma física como terapia antienvejecimiento.

Several recent important studies have clearly shown that a low physical fitness represents a potent risk factor and even a predictor of both cardiovascular and all-causes morbidity and mortality. As a consequence, physical fitness assessment should be performed at the clinical level since, when properly assessed, it is a highly valuable health and life expectancy indicator. Based on the results of fitness assessment in a particular person and knowing his/her life style and daily physical activity, an individually adapted training program can be prescribed. This training program will allow that person to develop his/her maximal physical potential while improving his/her physical and mental health and attenuating the deleterious consequences of aging. In fact, physical exercise is today proposed as a highly effective means to treat and prevent major morbidity and mortality causes in industrialized countries. Most of these causes are associated with the aging process. In order to be effective, this type of intervention should be directed to improve the aerobic capacity and strength. In addition, it should be complemented with work directed to improve the general coordination and flexibility. Finally, diet optimization and use of nutritional supplements and legal ergogenic aids are key elements to improve the functional capacity and health, all of which is synonymous of anti-aging interventions.

Mejora de la forma física como terapia antienvejecimiento / Improvement of physical fitness as anti-aging intervention

Importantes estudios han demostrado recientemente que un bajo nivel de forma física o condición física constituye un potente factor de riesgo y predictor de morbilidad y mortalidad tanto general (todas las causas) como cardiovascular. En consecuencia, la evaluación de la forma física debería ocupar un lugar privilegiado dentro del ámbito clínico ya que, realizada correctamente, constituye un valioso indicador de salud y expectativa de vida. Partiendo de la evaluación de la forma física, y conociendo el estilo de vida y nivel de actividad física que posee una persona, se puede prescribir un programa adecuado de ejercicio físico que permita al sujeto desarrollar su máximo potencial físico, atenuar las consecuencias del envejecimiento y mejorar el estado de salud físico-mental. De hecho, el ejercicio físico se propone hoy día como un medio altamente eficaz para tratar o prevenir las principales causas de morbimortalidad en los países occidentales, la mayor parte de las cuales se asocian al propio envejecimiento. Este tipo de intervención, para ser efectivo, debe tener como objetivo la mejora de la capacidad aeróbica y el aumento de la fuerza, siendo complementado con trabajo enfocado a mejorar la coordinación general y la movilidad articular. Por último, la optimización de la dieta y el uso de suplementos nutricionales y ayudas ergogénicas legales serán elementos clave para aumentar el rendimiento funcional y la salud, todo lo cual es sinónimo de antienvejecimiento

Several recent important studies have clearly shown that a low physi-calfitness represents a potent risk factor and even a predictor of bothcardiovascular and all-causes morbidity and mortality. As a consequence, physical fitness assessment should be performed at the clinical level since, when properly assessed, it is a highly valuable healt hand life expectancy indicator. Based on the results of fitness assessment in a particular person and knowing his/her life style and daily physical activity, an individually adapted training program can be prescribed. This training program will allow that person to develop his/her maximal physical potential while improving his/her physicaland mental health and attenuating the deleterious consequences of aging. In fact, physical exercise is today proposed as a highly effective means to treat and prevent major morbidity and mortality causes in industrialized countries. Most of these causes are associated with theaging process. In order to be effective, this type of intervention should be directed to improve the aerobic capacity and strength. In addition, it should be complemented with work directed to improve the general coordination and flexibility. Finally, diet optimization and use of nutritional supplements and legal ergogenic aids are key elements to improve the functional capacity and health, all of which is synonymous of antiaging interventions

[Hyponatremia in ultraendurance exercises. Effects on health and performance]. / Hiponatremia en esfuerzos de ultraresistencia: efectos sobre la salud y el rendimiento.

Dehydration is one of the main problems associated to endurance sports. In order to avoid the negative effects of dehydration athletes tend to drink well above their current needs. The negative effect of drinking too much fluid is hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is defined as a plasma sodium concentration lower than 135 mmol/L. Hyponatremia is the first cause of severe illness in ultraendurance sports and has been associated with sudden death. In this article, we analyze the causes, consequences, associated factors, therapeutic treatment and prevention of ultraendurance sports-associated hyponatremia. It is concluded that an adequate fluid ingestion is the best method to avoid hyponatremia. There is not conclusive data about the amount and necessity of sodium supplementation to avoid hyponatremia. However, it might be that it is not necessary to ingest additional sodium to prevent the development of hyponatremia in athletes who only partially replace their fluid losses during prolonged exercise.