Rock Climbing Lab

Anatomy and Physiology I Lab

Welcome to the Lab!

Overview:

In this lab, the students will experience and gain understanding of the gross anatomy of
the main skeletal system and musculature. They will investigate the integumentary, and
nervous systems and experience joint structure and articulation. The lab is intended to
explore movement. The steps and assignments that comprise this lab and lab write up
will aid in capturing and understanding the way muscle and bone function to allow
movement at the joints and the way skin affects grip, climbing and body temperature
regulation.

A.) Set up
B.) Preparing to climb
C.) Climbing
D.) Advanced climbing and questions to consider

Tips for Observations:

- Focus on one movement at a time. Draw a picture of that movement.
Think about the articulating bones and major muscles involved.
- Use diagrams to record movements. Stick figures can provide a suitable
record of human articulation by noting the major synovial joints and the relative
position of the associated limbs (see the examples in the stretching section).
- Think back to the pre-lab. Which muscles do you think you will use most
for climbing? Which joints? Re-list them here.
- Test your hypotheses by focusing your observations on the list you just
made

Assignment to be turned in: Due Date: Nov. 13, 11:30 lab

Pre-lab assignment
Notes and worksheet from the lab session at Central Rock
Post lab assignment – preferably typed.

How you share the notes from the lab session is up to you. You may work
collaboratively but I expect to receive individual write-ups for the lab. I would like to
receive a copy of the notes and worksheet from lab as this constitutes the raw data from
which you are drawing conclusions.
Note: Each climb is rated from 5.5 (easiest) to 5.15 (most difficult). Keep this rating
system in mind when choosing where to climb. Start easy and progress as you can.

HAVE FUN!!!!

Set Up
 1) Get your gear:
Harness
Belay Devise and Carabineer
Shoes

 2) Set your groups. Each group needs at least 1 climber, 1 belayer, and 1 note
taker. You may rotate in these roles during the course of the lab.

Either step 3 or 4 may be done first though both need to be completed. Make your
selection based on availability of Central Rock staff.

 3) Get certified for climbing and belaying. If you are not going to be doing either,
head up to the second level and start step 4.

Stretching
Stretching before activity is important for injury prevention. Muscles and tendons
with a greater range of motion passively are less likely to be injured when used actively.
Following are a few basic stretches. Do these and any others you are accustomed to.

What major muscles are you stretching?

 4)

What major muscles are you stretching?

 5)
 What major muscles are you
stretching?

 6)

What major muscles are you stretching?

 7)

Preparing to Climb
The first two segments of the lab should be done with 1 climber. Do not switch until
after these segments.

 8) Get your group approved by an instructor.

 9) The climber ties in while the belayer sets the rope in their belay devise and
carabineer.

 10) The climber and belayer check each others’ knots

 11) Take a moment to draw a diagram of the climber’s starting position with three
points on the wall (two hands and one foot).
Climbing
 12) The climber will start to climb slowly, allowing the belayer ample time to
keep up with the slack rope.

 13) The same climber is to repeat the climb 2-4 more times at comfortable speeds
until fatigued.

 14) Draw a diagram noting which areas on the climber feel the most
used/fatigued).

 15) Note whether or not perspiration on the climber’s hands is affecting their
ability to grip and climb.
Yes No

 16) If the answer is yes, see an instructor for a chalk bag. If no, then theorize how
it might and continue climbing.

 17) Try the wall again with chalk on the climber’s hands.

What do you think is the purpose of the chalk?

Note any additional observations here:

At this point you may switch climbers and repeat the above procedure if desired, noting
any additional observations and differences between the climbers.

Advanced Climbing
The following are some tips for advancing your skill and decreasing your fatigue.
Review each of these and try them.

 Try to climb with your body as close to the wall as possible. Compare this to
climbing with your body ‘hanging’ off the wall. Is there a difference? Why or
why not?

 Does posture and position affect the ability to climb? What muscles are involved
in maintaining posture?

 Go back and try a 5.5 climb. Use your legs predominately to lift your weight up
the wall and your arms and hands for balance and grip. Repeat the same climb
using your arms to lift your weight. Compare and contrast.

 Next try a more advanced climb. How is it more difficult? Do you need strength,
endurance, agility or flexibility?

 Is climbing an aerobic or anaerobic exercise?

 Which is more strenuous: repeating the same motion for one minute, or engaging
in a variety of motions for one minute?
 Skeletal muscles contain 3 different types of fibers; slow oxidative fibers (fatigue
resistant), fast oxidative fibers (moderately fatigable) and fast glycolytic fibers
(fatigable). All fiber types are found in skeletal muscle in differing proportions.
How is each muscle fiber type important? How might proportional differences
between muscle groups affect climbing?