A global survey of people who climb found that continuing to climb into the third trimester was not linked with higher rates of self-reported pregnancy or fetal complications, researchers at the University of Alberta report.
Study findings and scope
The study asked 692 participants about their climbing activity while pregnant, experiences of falls, health outcomes for mother and baby and plans for returning to the sport after delivery. Across roughly 64,000 hours of reported climbing, participants recorded 155 “hard falls” — incidents described as a fall or catch hard enough to be remembered or to cause concern. The investigators calculated an overall rate of adverse clinical events of 0.03 per 1,000 hours of exposure. All infants in the survey were born alive.
Researchers compared outcomes for those who stopped climbing at or before 27 weeks with those who continued beyond that point and found no statistically significant differences in pregnancy or fetal health measures.
What participants reported
- 692 people responded to the global survey.
- Respondents reported almost 64,000 hours of climbing during pregnancy.
- There were 155 remembered or concerning falls recorded.
- 96% said they felt “happy” or “very happy” about continuing to climb while pregnant despite concerns.
The study authors emphasise that these data are self-reported and preliminary, and that the research fills a gap where guidance has been based more on expert opinion than direct evidence. The paper is the first, they say, to provide direct evidence specific to climbing and pregnancy outcomes.
“For decades we have restricted pregnant women from activities like climbing due to concern for their health and the health of the baby, but our evidence suggests it’s beneficial for both mental and physical health.”
The comment comes from the study’s lead author, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, who framed the findings as challenging long-held restrictions rooted in caution rather than data.
Limitations and context
Authors caution that the survey design and voluntary response introduce limitations. Self-reporting can produce recall bias and may underestimate some events. The study does not replace controlled clinical trials or guideline-setting processes, nor does it establish safety for every individual — particularly those with pregnancy complications or other health risks.
Current physical activity guidance for pregnancy often advises against activities with a high risk of falling. The new findings do not automatically alter public-health recommendations, but they provide evidence clinicians and guideline developers can consider when counselling patients who already engage in climbing or are contemplating continuing the activity during pregnancy.
Support and further research
Funding for the research included support from the lead author’s Christenson Professorship in Healthy Active Living and a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Additional support came from the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute.
The authors call for further study to confirm these results in larger and more diverse samples, to capture clinical outcomes with medical verification and to examine whether certain forms of climbing, protection systems or fall-prevention strategies carry different levels of risk. Until such data are available, clinicians should continue to individualise advice for pregnant patients and discuss both the potential physical and mental-health effects of continuing or stopping high-risk recreational activities.
