Follow These Steps To Avoid Rock Climbing Injuries

Rock Climbing is fast becoming a favorite pass time in Malaysia. Unfortunately, so are the injuries associated with it. As such, we at Chiropractic Specialty Center® in Malaysia have decided to write a bit about what you can do to avoid injuries and even treatments for the injured rock climber in Malaysia.

Climbing can be performed indoors or outdoors, and there are different climbing activities. It can be a competitive sport such as bouldering and sports climbing, or traditional recreational climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering disciplines. The most common climbing injuries from indoor climbing are overuse injuries in the upper limbs. Tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and stress fractures in the fingers and wrist account for 75-90% of indoor climbing injuries.

What To Do For Hand & FInger Injuires

Rock climbing injuries often impact the hands and fingers. Chiropractic Specialty Center® in Kuala Lumpur provides holistic non-surgical treatment to repair the damaged tissues without injections or surgery. 

An A2 pulley partial tear or rupture of the ring finger, Climber’s finger, is commonly presented in elite competition climbers. A slight tear of the flexor tendon annular pulleys may be asymptomatic when the finger is at rest, but the finger’s base may become painful when gripping a hold. In severe cases with multiple complete ruptures of the annular pulley, the affected finger may result in visible bowstringing. 

What Are The Most Common Injuries Associated With Climbing?

The most common traumatic injuries are due to falls while leading an outdoor climb on natural rock, and experienced climbers were more likely to be injured during the activity. Falls can cause damage to wrists, elbows, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, and ankles. Simple slip and fall from low heights of a couple of feet are usually self-limiting. However, if your pain is more than mild stiffness or the fall was from a greater height, you will need to assess hidden injuries thoroughly. 

How To Avoid Injuries?

There is limited evidence that suggests warming up and taping the fingers between the joints can decrease the risk of ruptures. But there is some research reported that post-injury finger taping for at least 12 months is beneficial during climbing. Taping over the proximal phalanx may decrease the risk of bowstringing. Climbers and coaches need to recognize early signs and symptoms of overuse injuries, such as morning stiffness and decreased fine movement control. 

If you happen to be unlikely enough to have been injured during your climb, we can help. Chiropractic Specialty Center®, as practiced by our clinical teams of physiotherapists and chiropractors in Kuala Lumpur, has the best non-surgical treatments for you. For more information or inquiries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 03-2093 1000.