title: Previous injury as a risk factor for reinjury in rock climbing: a secondary analysis of data from a retrospective cross-sectional cohort survey of active rock climbers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this article is to report the findings of a secondary analysis of a previous injury study to consider previous injury as a risk factor for reinjury in rock climbing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We completed a secondary analysis of 201 questionnaires that were gathered as part of a retrospective cross-sectional cohort survey that investigated the epidemiology of injuries in a representative sample of British rock climbers. Participants had actively engaged in rock climbing over the previous 12-month period and were recruited from six indoor climbing centres and five outdoor climbing venues (men n=163, mean±SD, age=35.2±11.8 years, participating in rock climbing=13.88+11.77 years; women n=38, mean±SD, age=35.1±10.7 years, participating in rock climbing=11.62+9.19 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 101 participants who sustained a previous injury, 36 were found to have sustained at least one reinjury. The total number of reinjuries was 82, with the average probability of sustaining at least one reinjury being 35.6% (95% CI 34.71% to 36.8%; p<0.001, McNemar's χ2test) with the relative risk of reinjury being 1.55 (95% CI 1.34 to 1.80). The fingers were the most common site of reinjury (12 participants, 26%; χ2=43.12, df=5, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous injury was found to be a significant risk factor for reinjury, particularly at the site of the fingers. Technical difficulty in bouldering and sport climbing behaviours were significantly associated with repetitive overuse reinjury. As participatory figures increase, so does the likelihood that a high proportion of climbers may sustain a reinjury of the upper extremity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK; Leeds Pallium Research Group, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: University of Exeter Medical School , Exeter , UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK; Leeds Pallium Research Group, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Mark I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Johnson
keywords: Injury; Overuse; Rock climbing