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Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2017; 221(01): 25-29
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-119654
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pregnant Women in Sport Climbing – Is there a Higher Risk for Preterm Birth?

Schwangere und Sportklettern – Findet sich eine höhere Frühgeburtenrate?
Jan Drastig
1   Department for Rehabilitation, German Statutory Pension Insurance, Berlin, Germany
2   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
,
David Hillebrandt
4   Medical Committee of the Union Internationale des Associations d‘Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Berne, Switzerland
,
Werner Rath
3   Institute of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
,
Thomas Küpper
2   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
4   Medical Committee of the Union Internationale des Associations d‘Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Berne, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 29 August 2015

accepted after revision05 October 2016

Publication Date:
19 January 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Background:

Sport climbing is a popular recreational sport with an increasing proportion of female athletes. International recommendations emphasize the physical and mental benefits of regular sport activity during any uncomplicated pregnancy. In this context, sport climbing is associated with a high risk potential.

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to examine if there is a higher risk for preterm birth in active climbing athletes.

Study Design:

Original manuscript.

Methods:

A retrospective self-report online survey in the German language collected data between September 2012 and November 2013. In addition to anthropometric and demographic data, data on climbing experience, preferred climbing discipline, skill level and changes of climbing habits during pregnancy, known risk factors for preterm birth and information on delivery and the newborn were requested. The rate of preterm birth of the survey was tested with Fisher’s exact test with information from the German Federal Statistical Office.

Results:

Sample size was 32. 72% had a university degree, 81% were primiparous, all were singleton pregnancies. A 33rd questionnaire was excluded because of described preeclampsia. Age ranged between 21 and 39 years, climbing experience before pregnancy between 2 and 24 years, and skill level before pregnancy between 4 and 7 on the UIAA scale (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation). Half of the women climbed until the 36th week and 90% adjusted their climbing habits mostly by reducing climbing difficulty and doing more top roping. 2 preterm births in the 36th week of gestation were found (2 from 15, p=0.36). According to the data from the German Federal Statistical Office, 8.9% births in the year 2013 in Germany were preterm.

Conclusions:

This is the first study investigating the risk of preterm birth in recreational sport climbing athletes. No significantly higher proportion of preterm birth could be found. Limitations are small sample size and high social status of participants. What is known about the subject: Sport climbing is not a high-risk sport, but it is regarded as a dynamic whole-body exercise and has been shown to be a valuable therapy for various physical and mental diseases. Higher performance levels are associated with overuse damage to the upper extremity, especially the fingers. What this study adds to existing knowledge: This is first study investigating climbing-related risk of preterm birth. When continuing sport climbing as a recreational activity during an uncomplicated pregnancy, experienced athletes do not have a higher risk of adverse events.

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung: Das Sportklettern ist eine beliebte Breitensportart mit wachsendem Frauenanteil. Während internationale Empfehlungen den physischen und mentalen Nutzen regelmäßiger sportlicher Aktivität in jeder unkomplizierten Schwangerschaft betonen, wird das Sportklettern in diesem Zusammenhang als Risikosportart abgelehnt. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, zu untersuchen, ob aktive Kletterinnen in Deutschland ein erhöhtes Risiko für eine Frühgeburt haben.

Methode: Zwischen September 2012 und November 2013 wurde eine Online-Befragung durchgeführt. In der retrospektiven Selbstauskunft wurden neben anthropometrischen und demografischen Daten auch die Klettergewohnheiten, die Klettererfahrung, die Leistungsstufe, die Veränderungen der Sportausübung während der Schwangerschaft, bekannte Risikofaktoren für eine Frühgeburt sowie Informationen zur Geburt und das Neugeborene abgefragt. Die Frühgeburtenrate wurde mittels Exaktem Fisher-Test mit den Daten des Statistischen Bundesamtes verglichen.

Ergebnisse: Von den 32 eingeschlossenen Teilnehmerinnen hatten alle eine Einlingsschwangerschaft, waren 81% Erstgebärende und 72% hatten einen Universitätsabschluss. Ein Fragebogen wurde aufgrund einer beschriebenen Präeklampsie ausgeschlossen. Das Alter der Schwangeren reichte von 21 bis 39 Jahren. Die Zeit des aktiven Kletterns vor der Schwangerschaft erstreckte sich über 2–24 Jahre. Die maximalen Kletterschwierigkeiten auf der UIAA-Skala (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) betrugen zwischen 4 und 7. Die Hälfte der Frauen kletterten bis zur 36. Schwangerschaftswoche und 90% änderten dabei ihre Klettergewohnheiten, meistens in Form eines Absenkens der Kletterschwierigkeit und eines Wechsels vom Vorstiegsklettern zum Toprope-Klettern. 2 Frühgeburten in der 36. Schwangerschaftswoche wurden gefunden (2 von 15, p=0,36). Laut Angaben des Statistischen Bundesamtes waren im Jahr 2013 8,9% der Geburten in Deutschland Frühgeburten.

Schlussfolgerung: Dies ist die erste Studie, welche das Risiko einer Frühgeburt bei fortgesetztem Sportklettern in der Schwangerschaft untersuchte. Ein signifikant erhöhtes Frühgeburtsrisiko wurde bei den erfahrenen Kletterinnen nicht gefunden. Einschränkungen des Ergebnisses ergeben sich durch die kleine Anzahl sowie den hohes Sozialstatus der Teilnehmerinnen.

Key words

pregnancy - preterm birth - sports climbing

Schlüsselwörter

Schwangerschaft - Frühgeburt - Sportklettern
 

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