Growth Plate Injuries In Youth Climbers
The popularity of rock climbing among young individuals has surged in recent years, leading to an increased incidence of finger stress epiphyseal fractures, which are the primary injury observed among youth climbers. These fractures commonly occur during puberty, a period when the growth plates (physis) in the fingers are particularly susceptible to damage. Initially, [...]
Managing your mindset and mental health when injured
Tell a non-climbing friend that you’ve got a sore finger and they might not be too sympathetic. For us as climbers, on the other hand, such an injury can feel disastrous. And that makes absolute sense.
Dry Needling’s Role in Climbing Injuries
If you’re similar to most climbers, you have experienced your fair share of injuries, from muscle strains and nagging shoulder aches, to the dreaded finger pulley injury. Your gym friends have likely recommended a host of interventions to enhance your recovery process from taping, static cupping, to specific strengthening and mobility programs. Maybe a friend [...]
Lower Body Strength for High Stepping and Edging
Two climbing moves that require significant amounts of lower body strength and conditioning are high stepping and edging. High step: raising one foot as high as possible to gain purchase on a hold, allowing you to shift your weight and maintain balance. Edging: a specific technique used to gain traction and support on small [...]
Training for High Altitude Climbing
We approached the lower saddle of the Grand Teton as the sun slowly began to rise. There was a feeling of optimism due to our quick ascent of the hiking section on the Grand. We planned to climb the full Exum ridge parking lot to parking lot. With over 7,000 feet of ascent, we [...]
Falling with a dodgy knee: A guide to injury prevention and management in boulderers with existing knee problems
For many people who are new to bouldering, falling and jumping off the wall often seems very scary, especially to those who have a “dodgy knee.” We all know that one person who started climbing, but refuses to jump down or commit to risky moves because they do not want to hurt their knees. Being [...]