I love research.
So much in fact, that I love to discuss it....read it while drinking my favorite coffee (Ethiopian this week),
and this week, bring research from other areas that I think will help us as climbers.
This week we discuss moving and the interrelationship between it and health yet again. Moderna vaccinations, and climbing chalk (again)
Let's start off with a bit of pep talking! Get those shoes and get to the gym as a recent study published April 13, 2021. in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Looking at the relationship between activity and COVID-19 symptoms, the study followed 48,440 adult patients and compared their health to their activity level in regards to covidseverity. found that physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The paper covered cases and client loads at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana, CA following clients from prior to infection (2018) and comparing activity levels with symptom severity through 2020 (Jan-Oct).
Conclusions:
Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults. We recommend efforts to promote physical activity be prioritized by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care.
How does this correlate to climbing?
First, there is only one case in research pointing to outdoor transmission of COVID-19 (China, transmission between two sitting on an outdoor bench for a prolonged period).
Second, we have found that climbing chalk is not a source of transmission, and that it kills COVID efficiently for contact surfaces.
Third, we all need to climb. If research points that us actually getting out and getting some exercise does actually in effect help us to NOT catch or pass along COVID, we should do it. Even IF you might not be lucky enough to be vaccinated. I myself have the Moderna vaccination(s) and am very happy to see a 90% effectiveness against all forms of the disease and 95% effective against severe disease as of April 9th. (Moderna's results come from its ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial involving more 30,000 people across the United States).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
