Incidence, mechanism and risk factors for injury in youth rock climbers.
BACKGROUND
Rock-climbing participation has grown globally in recent years, and the sport was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 2010. The epidemiology of climbing injuries in adults has been examined, but few studies have investigated injury in youth climbers.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the incidence, mechanisms and risk factors for injury in recreational and elite sport climbers and boulderers aged 11-19 years.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Youth (n=116) were recruited from climbing facilities across Alberta, Canada. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire from October 2012 to March 2013. Climbing injury incidence proportions and incidence rates (IR) were calculated. ORs with corresponding 95% CIs were estimated for possible risk factors.


RESULTS
The injury IR was 4.44 injuries/1000 climbing hours (95% CI 3.74 to 5.23). Sprains (27%) and strains (26%) were the predominant injury types, and repetitive overuse was the primary mechanism of injury (42%). Hands and fingers were the most commonly injured locations (21%). Exploratory analyses showed three risk factors for injury: older age (15-19 vs 11-14 years; OR=11.30, 95% CI 2.33 to 54.85), injury in a sport other than climbing (OR=6.46, 95% CI 1.62 to 25.68) and preventive taping (OR=5.09, 95% CI 1.44 to 18.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Injury risk is high in youth climbers. Findings are consistent with the reported rates, types and mechanisms in adults. Modifiable risk factors warrant further investigation to inform the development of injury prevention strategies, targeting high-risk climbers including adolescents and those with previous injury.
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Kaikanani Y
KY
Woollings
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Carly D
CD
McKay
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jian
J
Kang
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Willem H
WH
Meeuwisse
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Faculty of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute for Child & Maternal Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Faculty of Medicine, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Carolyn A
CA
Emery
D000041:Absenteeism; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries*; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
Children; Epidemiology; Injury; Rock climbing; Sport climbing