Study summary

Study Summary: Force-Velocity Profiles in Speed Climbers (de la Cruz et al., 2024)

Summary of a 2024 study comparing upper- and lower-limb force-velocity profiles across Speed climbing ability and sex.

SpeedClimbing.com Editorial TeamReviewed August 19, 2026Direct Speed Evidence — physical profiling
Direct Speed Evidence — physical profiling

This page summarizes one paper. Findings should be interpreted within its design, sample and limitations.

StudyRoad to Paris 2024: force-velocity profile in different speed climbing abilities considering sex
Year2024
DesignCross-sectional force-velocity study
Evidence labelDirect Speed Evidence — physical profiling

Research question and overview

Rather than asking only who is stronger, this study examined how force and velocity characteristics differ across Speed climbers of different performance levels and sexes.

Methods

Twenty-six Speed climbers were divided into international- and national-level groups, including men and women. Upper- and lower-limb force-velocity profiles were evaluated.

Main findings

The research adds Speed-specific support for profiling rapid force production and distinguishing upper- and lower-limb qualities. It helps explain why generic maximal-strength numbers are incomplete descriptors.

Limitations

The cohort is small, especially in some sex and level subgroups, so exact values should not be turned into universal benchmarks. Cross-sectional differences also cannot identify the training method that caused them.

Practical meaning

This paper supports the Training hub's emphasis on explosive power while reinforcing our decision not to publish arbitrary elite cutoff tables.

Read the original paper

Road to Paris 2024: force-velocity profile in different speed climbing abilities considering sex. The original paper is authoritative for exact methods, statistics and author conclusions.

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Summary standard

Each summary separates what was studied, how it was measured, what was found, what limits the conclusion and what the result can reasonably mean in practice.