title: Injury patterns in recreational rock climbers.
abstract: We studied 39 recreational rock climbers to determine the incidence and pattern of injuries sustained in the sport at their level. Eleven climbers (26%), who climbed beyond the sport level, had sustained a major injury from a fall. Thirty-five climbers (89%) sustained at least one significant injury. Fifty percent of the injuries involved the hand or wrist. Only seven climbers (19%) had evidence of a digital pulley injury (climber's finger). Four climbers (11%) had evidence of a carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty climbers (50%) had tendinitis in an upper extremity on physical examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rooks
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ensor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries; D012421:Rupture; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000473:pathology; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000473:pathology