Quick summary
- Eva López SubHangs strength endurance protocol
- Strength endurance protocol similar to the MaxHangs but with significantly longer hang times
- Potential to improve both strength endurance as well as strength, through hypertrophy
- Eva López SubHangs MED protocol details
- Eva López SubHangs MAW protocol details
- Eva López SubHangs protocol summary table
- SubHangs strength endurance routine remarks
- Short video demonstration of the Eva López SubHangs MED protocol
- Typical SubHangs strength endurance training cycles
- SubHangs strength endurance training cycle for beginners
- SubHangs strength endurance training cycle for intermediate
- SubHangs strength endurance training cycle for advanced
- Eva López SubHangs hang times and intensity
- PCr and pH response for the SubHangs strength endurance protocol
- SubHangs strength endurance training adaptations
- Eva López SubHangs Forearm Endurance Workout conclusions
- An alternative to Hangboard Repeaters and IntHangs
- Improves both strength and strength endurance
- Improved PCr muscle stores and recovery rate
- Forearm muscle hypertrophy and growth hormone release triggered
- Quick and efficient – can be done in under 10 minutes!
Eva López SubHangs strength endurance protocol
Eva López SubHangs strength endurance protocol was introduced on her blog in early 2018 [1]. The method is very similar to her MaxHangs routine for finger strength. Still, longer hang times are applied, which is aimed primarily at improving strength endurance and potentially also strength itself, through hypertrophy. For the MaxHangs, hang times of about 10 seconds are common, but for the SubHangs strength endurance protocol, hang times of up to 45 seconds are used [1][2].
In a way, Eva López SubHangs strength endurance protocol is quite similar to the more old fashioned way of hangboard training, where long hangs till failure were preferred [3]. This resulted in many shoulder injuries because the shoulder joint gets fatigued quicker than the fingers [4]. The protocol can be executed in two versions, the minimum edge with no added weight (SubHangs MED) and with added weight (SubHangs MAW). However, the MAW version is recommended only for advanced climbers [1].
Eva López SubHangs MED protocol details
- Choose an edge on which you can hang between 20 and 45 seconds.
- Perform one hang of 20 – 45 seconds, rest for 30 seconds up to 2 minutes.
- Perform 4 – 8 sets.
Eva López SubHangs MAW protocol details
- Choose an edge between 14 – 20 mm and a corresponding load, so that you can hang between 20 and 45 seconds.
- Perform one hang of 20 – 45 seconds, rest for 30 seconds up to 2 minutes.
- Perform 4 – 8 sets.
Table 1: Eva López SubHangs protocol summary.
| SubHangs MED/MAW | |
|---|---|
| Hang test time [s] | 20 - 45 |
| MVC-7 load | 55 - 85% |
| Sets | 4 - 8 |
| Hangs/set | 1 |
| Hang time [s] | 20 - 45 |
| Rest betw. sets [s] | 30 - 180 |
| TUT [s] | 80 - 360 |
| Total time [min] | 3 - 27 |
SubHangs strength endurance routine remarks
- The SubHangs strength endurance MAW protocol is only recommended for advanced climbers with a lot of training experience. Beginners and intermediate should stick to SubHangs MED.
- You can tailor the program to suit your current performance requirements:
- If you need to improve your recovery time between sustained sections of a route, you should start with long rests of 2 – 3 minutes between sets. Shorten the rests gradually while progressing through the program, down to a minimum of 30 seconds. Keep the hang duration or load constant.
- Alternatively, if you need to be able to hold a specific grip position for a longer time, you can increase the hang period and keep the pause unchanged.
- If the pause between sets is less than 2 minutes, select the load in such a way, so that you reach failure or near-failure in the last hang of the session.
- If the pause between sets is 2 – 3 minutes, select the load in such a way so that you reach failure or near-failure at the end of each set.
- You may need to adjust the load (SubHangs MAW) or edge depth (SubHangs MED) for each set or even repetition, to reach failure exactly when it is required.
- Training frequency [5]
- For improving your strength endurance perform the drills twice a week, with 48 – 72 hours recovery between the sessions.
- If you want to maintain your current strength endurance level, exercising once a week should be sufficient.
- For advanced climbers who train 5-6 times per week, three SubHangs sessions a week are possible if they don’t climb during the weekends.
- Make sure to warm up your shoulders before you start the protocol. The longer hangs, above 30 seconds, can be very straining on the shoulders and potentially lead to rotator cuff injuries.
Video 1: Short video demonstration of the Eva López SubHangs protocol.
Make sure to warm up your shoulders thoroughly, if you're going for the long hang times above 30 seconds.
Typical SubHangs strength endurance training cycles
The basic principle for the SubHangs protocols is to create a training overload by progressing the volume. Steve Bechtel applied a similar approach in his 3-6-9 Ladders strength training protocol [6][7]. Once the progress slows down, you should start changing other workout parameters. You may try the following two approaches [5]:- Keep the hang intensity and recovery times fixed while extending the hang duration up to 45 seconds.
- Keep the hang intensity and hang times fixed while shortening the recovery time between sets down to 30 seconds.
SubHangs strength endurance training cycle for beginners
- Week 1: 2 sets/session
- Week 2: 3 sets/session
- Weeks 3 and 4: 4 sets/session
- Weeks 5 and 6: rest
- Weeks 7 and 8: 3 sets/session
- Weeks 9 and 10: 4 sets/session
SubHangs strength endurance training cycle for intermediate
- Week 1: 3 sets/session
- Weeks 2 and 3: 4 sets/session
- Week 4: 5 sets/session
- Week 5: rest
- Weeks 6: 3 sets/session
- Week 7: 4 sets/session
- Weeks 8 and 9: 5 sets/session
SubHangs strength endurance training cycle for advanced
- Week 1: 3 sets/session
- Week 2: 4 sets/session
- Weeks 3 and 4: 5 sets/session
- Week 5: 3 sets/session
- Week 6: 4 sets/session
- Weeks 7 and 8: 5 sets/session
- Weeks 9 and 10: compulsory rest
Eva López SubHangs hang times and intensity
The SubHangs are a relatively new hangboard endurance routine, and we can find little information on the topic, other than on Eva’s blog. Still, let’s try to analyze it a bit deeper. The first noticeable thing is that the hang times are much longer than for most hangboard protocols. The longest hang times in the protocols discussed until now were used in Steve Bechtel’s 3-6-9 Ladders protocol (up to 12 seconds), and in the Eva Lopez MaxHangs protocol (up to 15 seconds) [2][7]. The Zlagboard Forearm Endurance Workout uses 60-second hangs, but the feet are supported on some footholds, which significantly reduces the load [8].
Eva López SubHangs are characterized by much longer hang times than most hangboard protocols.
PCr and pH response for the SubHangs strength endurance protocol
While the rests between hangs for the SubHangs are much longer than it is in the case of Hangboard Repeaters, they are still too short to ensure full PCr recovery, as can be seen in the graph in Figure 2 below. A significant blood lactate buildup is expected, particularly with rest times below 1 minute, which makes the stimulus in terms of blood pH a bit similar to the Zlagboard Forearm Endurance Workout.
Figure 2: PCR restoration dynamics and lactic pH changes in calf muscle during rest, exercise, and recovery periods of a high-intensity plantar flexion test according to [16].
SubHangs strength endurance training adaptations
When SubHangs strength endurance protocol is executed, partial blood flow occlusion is triggered, which causes lactic acid (Lac), hydrogen (H+), inorganic phosphorus (Pi), and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accumulation in the forearms. This is particularly the case during the longer, lower intensity hangs of over 30-seconds duration. PCr stores are rapidly exhausted, resulting in most of the ATP being generated through glycolysis. We know that during low-intensity intermittent exercise, the contribution of aerobic glycolysis to ATP synthesis may reach from 75% in untrained individuals up to 95% in endurance athletes. The rest is covered by anaerobic processes [17]. However, when the muscle contractions are continuous, similar to the SubHangs, anaerobic processes dominate, because blood flow is hampered [18].
During the 30 – 180 second rest periods, PCr in the forearms will get partly renewed. The rate of recovery will be much faster in endurance-trained athletes, like sports climbers than in sprint-trained athletes, like boulderers. This is caused by the differences in the mitochondrial density in the muscles between the two groups [18][19]. Notice in the graph above that the pH keeps going down even during the rest period since it is a byproduct of PCr resynthesis [17][16]. As PCr stores cannot get fully recharged in 30 – 180 seconds, this means that lactic acid is continuously being produced throughout the entire 3 – 20-minute duration of the protocol. In consequence, very high blood lactate concentrations in the forearms and very painful pump buildup at the end [20].
Based on the above considerations, we can classify the SubHangs protocol as a form of anaerobic interval training [21]. The routine leads to local hypoxia in the forearms, which means that not enough oxygen is temporarily delivered to the muscles. This induces increased adenosine monophosphate protein (AMP) levels and triggers mitochondrial growth in the forearm muscles. Furthermore, the vascularization of type II muscle fibers is enhanced. What is perhaps even more important, the activity of enzymes involved in anaerobic metabolism is boosted. On top of that, the tolerance to high acidic loads is improved, while the A-VO2 difference increases.
Eva López SubHangs Forearm Endurance Workout conclusions
The SubHangs strength endurance protocols are quite new, and there is no information available yet regarding their effectiveness. They seem to be an interesting alternative to other strength endurance protocols, such as Repeaters, or IntHangs. With the SubHangs climbing endurance protocols, you should improve your PCr recovery, and the total PCr levels in your muscles will be heightened [22]. What is more, you may expect muscle hypertrophy, owing to anabolic hormone secretion, caused by lowered blood pH, and fast-twitch muscle recruitment [21].
The adaptations listed above mostly concern the anaerobic energy system and are expected to enhance the energy store component W’, but not CF, which is more related to aerobic metabolism [23]. Thus the SubHangs climbing endurance protocol has the characteristics of a typical strength endurance training method.
Eva López SubHangs take very little time. Anyone can invest 10 minutes in strength endurance training, right?
What I realy like about Eva López SubHangs is that they take very little time. If you’re going for the short hang times at low loads and with short rests, e.g. 20-second hangs at 60% MVC-7, with 30-second rests, you could be done in under 10 minutes. Anyone can invest 10 minutes in strength endurace training, right? As far as the longer hang times are concerned, this version of the protocol takes more time – even up to 27 minutes. Proper warmup adds a bit extra to that, because you need to pay extra attention to warming up your shoulders properly.
Give the SubHangs climbing endurance protocol a go if you want to mix up your fingerboard training and provide a different kind of stimulus to the forearm muscles. Because the method is likely different from the typical hangboard protocols you tried before, you should notice quick benefits both for your anaerobic forearm endurance, as well as for finger strength itself! Let me know how it went for you!
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me. Please subscribe to the blog to keep up to date with the upcoming posts on cutting edge methods of climbing training!
References
- Eva López Blog – Fingerboard Training Guide (II). Maximal grip Strength and Endurance Methods and Load Training management, May 23, 2018. (link)↩↩↩
- J. Banaszczyk, StrengthClimbing – Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine for finger strength, Apr. 29, 2019. (link)↩↩
- U. Chrobak, Climber Eva López Has a PhD in Finger Strength, Outside Online, Jul. 9, 2018. (link)↩
- Frey Law, L.A., Avin, K.G., 2010. Endurance time is joint-specific: A modelling and meta-analysis investigation. Ergonomics 53, 109–129. (link)↩
- Eva López Blog – Fingerboard Training Guide (III). Program design and Periodization of MaxHangs, IntHangs and SubHangs. Samples of MaxHangs training programs, Jul 05, 2018. (link)↩↩
- S. Bechtel, Climb Strong – Logical Progression, Using Nonlinear Periodization for Year-Round Climbing Performance, Feb. 23, 2017. (link)↩
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- Huijgens, J.M.M., 1981. A model for quantifying static load, incorporating muscle fatigue. In: Buskirk, W.C. (Ed.), Biomechanics Symposium, Boulder, CO, 22-24 Jun. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, pp. 97-99. (link)↩
- Sjogaard, G., 1986. Intramuscular changes during long-term contraction. In: Corlett, N., Wilson, J., Manenica, I. (Eds.), The Ergonomics of Working Postures – Models, Methods and Cases. Taylor & Francis, London, pp. 136-143 (Chapter 14). (link)↩
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- Pesta, D., Paschke, V., Hoppel, F., Kobel, C., Kremser, C., Esterhammer, R., Burtscher, M., Kemp, G., Schocke, M., 2013. Different Metabolic Responses during Incremental Exercise Assessed by Localized 31P MRS in Sprint and Endurance Athletes and Untrained Individuals. International Journal of Sports Medicine 34, 669–675. (link)↩
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- Giles, D., Chidley, J.B., Taylor, N., Torr, O., Hadley, J., Randall, T., Fryer, S., 2019. The Determination of Finger-Flexor Critical Force in Rock Climbers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 14, 972–979. (link)↩
