Abstract
Polyphenols have been shown to have significant benefits on the aerobic system; however, there is currently little information about their effects on strength-endurance. Cranberries are rich in polyphenols, specifically the rare A-type proanthocyanidin (aPAC), which is associated with their various physiological benefits.
Purpose: This study aims to see the effect of a 28-day cranberry supplementation on rock climbers’ anaerobic performance of push-ups, pull-ups, and hang-boarding.
Methods: 19 participants (14M: 5F) took part in an exploratory study involving two groups, control (CON, n = 11) and cranberry-supplemented (CS, n = 8), with repeated measures over 28 days. The CON group took no supplement, while the CS group took a lab-grade freeze-dried cranberry supplement containing 7.2 – 10% aPAC daily (0.3 g/kg of body weight). Participants came in 3 times during the 28 days (day 0, 14, and 28) and completed push-ups (PU), pull-ups (PLU), and hang-boarding (HB).
Results: While no statistically significant improvements were found, the CS group had a smaller, insignificant increase in PU when compared to CON (+10.9% vs +11.12%, p = 0.933). The PLUs saw a greater non-significant improvement in performance for the CS group compared to the CON (+14.78% vs +3.28%, p = 0.552). The CS group saw greater insignificant improvements for HB when compared to the CON (+4.77% vs -8.77%, p = 0.102).
Conclusion: Currently, this study is unable to demonstrate the effects of cranberry polyphenols on rock climbers’ strength-endurance performance, likely due to low sample size. Ongoing recruitment is aiming to increase participant numbers and strengthen the analysis.
Recommended Citation
Denis, Antoine; Bergdahl, Andreas; and Kraemer, Kate
(2025)
"The Effect of a Polyphenol-Rich Cranberry Supplement on the Strength-Endurance Performance of Rock Climbers,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15:
Iss.
7, Article 16.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss7/16