Self-Reported Injury Mechanisms in Climbers

Abstract

BackgroundClimbing is an increasingly popular sport worldwide. However relatively little is known about the mechanisms of injury sustained by climbers.ObjectiveTo investigate mechanisms of injury in a representative sample of British climbers.DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study.SettingOnline survey of active climbers.Patients (or Participants)369 active climbers (men n=307, mean±SD, age=37.66 ±14.38 years; Women n=62, mean ±SD, age=34.63 ±12.19 years).Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors)Epidemiological incidence proportion (IP) and mechanism of injury.Main Outcome MeasurementsInjuries that resulted in medical intervention and/or withdrawal from participation for ≥1 day.ResultsOf 369 climbers surveyed, 299 sustained at least 1 injury in the last 12 months resulting from climbing. The IP was 0.810 (95% CI: 0.770–0.850). Thus the average probability of sustaining at least one injury was 81% (95% CI: 77–85). The total number of injuries sustained was 1088 providing a clinical incidence of 2.95 injuries per climber. 94 climbers sustained an acute injury as a result of impact with the climbing surface and/or ground, 212 climbers sustained an injury resulting from chronic overuse and 166 climbers sustained injuries resulting from a non-impact acute trauma. The average probabilities of sustaining injury per mechanism were: impact injury 25.5% (95% CI: 23.2–27.8); acute non-impact injury 45.1% (95% CI: 42.5–47.7) and chronic overuse injury 57.5% (95% CI: 54.9–60.1). Injury from chronic overuse was positively associated with indoor lead operating standard (P=0.007), bouldering operating standard (P< 0.001) and bouldering frequency (P< 0.001). The most common injury site was the fingers with 180 participants (60%) sustaining at least one finger injury. 85 participants sustained at least 1 chronic overuse reinjury.ConclusionsThe most commonly reported injury mechanism was chronic overuse. The most common site was the fingers. Chronic overuse injuries due to repetitive loading may have been historically preceded by a non-impact acute trauma.

Analysis of the Prevalence of Injuries and Associated Factors in Brazilian Climbers

“…From the results obtained, it can be observed that the prevalence of injuries reached a margin of 71.8% of the individuals, corroborating with other studies such as the one performed with 369 British climbers, characterizing the prevalence of 81% of injuries in individuals. 13 In this study, a prevalence of injuries in sports climbing was found, being a modality designed to have a greater safety, allowing the climber to risk more. 1,3 In the search for climbing pathways with higher degrees of difficulty, climbers force sudden and repetitive movements, often leading to muscle fatigue and causing major impacts on the joints, as seen in this study, the significant prevalence (p <0.05) of injuries in higher degrees of difficulty in sports climbing.…”