Gym climbing constraints and negotiations during the pandemic

In this conceptual paper, we explore the impact of the pandemic, along with governmental and gym safety measures on gym climbing participation. We explain how internal and external forces have hindered participation and how gym climbers negotiated with those constraints during the pandemic. Drawing from secondary data sources in climbing-related media and organizations, we first illustrate how climbing gyms adapted their safety policies from shutdown to reopening phases. This highlights the role of pandemic and safety measures in shaping structural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal constraints. The conceptual explication of pandemic-induced gym climbing constraints enables us to further analyse how individuals adjusted their participation and devised alternatives to sustain their climbing activities. Our discussion contributes to the understanding of human perceptions and responses in crisis situation and highlights avenues for future research, particularly in relation to gym professionals and climbers' responsibilities and resources in addressing collective societal challenges and sustaining exercise engagement.