I understand current research indicates that “static stretching” isn the best warm-up method at the start of a climbing session. What do you recommend as a warm-up procedure?
Hi Lenny, You are correct that cold, static stretching can do more harm than good. The best warm-up for climbing is the “active stretching” that climbing a couple of very easy routes provides. Before getting on the rock, you could also benefit from doing jumping jacks or going for a short jog (anything that will raise your heart rate and core temperature before getting on the rock). After you warm the muscles you can safely do some static style stretches–most important for the forearm muscles (both from and back), in order to reduce injury risk. Lower body stretching (after warm-up and some easy climbing) can also be beneficial to improve leg and hip movement on harder routes. My new book, Conditioning for Climbers, provides detailed instruction on stretching and much more. Hope this helps. Good luck! Q: Hi Eric, I’m new to climbing but have done other sports for the majority of my life. I am reading Training for Climbing and I really enjoy your thorough and in-depth coverage of how t
