Case Report

Common neuromusculoskeletal injuries amongst rock climbers in the Western Cape

Liezel Wegner, Jarryd E. Pagel, Ashley W. Smit, Aimee Straszacker, Sarah L. Swart, St John Taft
South African Journal of Physiotherapy | Vol 71, No 1 | a227 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v71i1.227 | © 2015 Liezel Wegner, Jarryd E. Pagel, Ashley W. Smit, Aimee Straszacker, Sarah L. Swart, St John Taft | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 January 2015 | Published: 28 April 2015

About the author(s)

Liezel Wegner, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Jarryd E. Pagel, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Ashley W. Smit, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Aimee Straszacker, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Sarah L. Swart, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
St John Taft, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Rock climbing is an extreme sport that is fast gaining interest in the Western Cape. Due to the physical nature of the sport, climbers often suffer neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) injuries. Physiotherapists are first-line practitioners who diagnose and treat NMS injuries, but no previous study has been conducted regarding common NMS injuries amongst rock climbers in the Western Cape.

Objective: To determine the common NMS injuries amongst rock climbers, and the relationships between independent variables and injury.

Method: A Quantitative, cross-sectional, retrospective descriptive study design utilised a self-developed survey based on the literature. This was completed by rock climbers from an indoor climbing gym in Cape Town and two outdoor crags in the Western Cape. Out of the total population of 650 climbers, 247 were conveniently sampled to complete the self-administered survey, making the results generalisable to the climbing population.

Results: Finger flexor tendon pulley injuries were the most commonly diagnosed NMS injury. Injury to the fingers, hand and elbow regions were the most common self-reported injury by area. The risk of suffering climbing-related injuries was significantly correlated to gender, setting, grade and type of climbing, but not to frequency of climbing.

Conclusion: The results of this study could assist physiotherapists to assess and manage the common NMS injuries that occur in this group of extreme athletes, as well as to raise awareness amongst rock climbers in the Western Cape about potential risk of injury.


Keywords

No related keywords in the metadata.

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4157
Total article views: 5821

 

Crossref Citations

1. Retrospective Analysis of Functional Pain among Professional Climbers
Matuska Jakub, Jokiel Marta, Domaszewski Przemysław, Konieczny Mariusz, Pakosz Paweł, Dybek Tomasz, Wotzka Daria, Skorupska Elżbieta
Applied Sciences  vol: 12  issue: 5  first page: 2653  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3390/app12052653