The shoulder is an integral component of a climber’s ability to scale walls efficiently and effectively. It allows for an incredible range of motion that makes spanning large distances and cramming yourself into cracks possible. However, the same mobility that makes it so valuable also makes it susceptible to injury. Shoulder issues account for 17%...
By: John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS Rock climbing, like all other sports, has risk factors that contribute to injury rates. Knowing what factors contribute to added injury risk can help participants build better training programs and potentially reduce future risk of injury. Luckily, researchers have begun to ask these questions and have made progress in...
By: John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS Competitive youth climbing is a rapidly growing sport. With the large increase in indoor climbing gyms has come a significant increase in access to the sport of rock climbing. Many of these gyms have recreational and competitive youth programs that have led to a much larger exposure to the...
By John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is a condition that arises from an imbalance between training, recovery, and the body’s ability to adapt. In the context of rock climbing, which is a demanding sport requiring strength, endurance, and mental acuity, recognizing the signs and symptoms of OTS can help to avoid injury...
Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is a condition that arises from an imbalance between training, recovery, and the body’s ability to adapt. In the context of rock climbing, which is a demanding sport requiring strength, endurance, and mental acuity, recognizing the signs and symptoms of OTS can help to avoid injury and setbacks in reaching goals ....
Rock climbing is a challenging sport. However, training for climbing might be an even more challenging endeavor. To rock climb well requires developing strength, endurance, power, mobility, and sport specific skill. Moreover, it requires developing all of those areas for the entirety of the body due to the whole body nature of the sport. However,...
Introduction Climbing is a physically demanding and exhilarating sport that requires a combination of strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. Unfortunately, when injuries to the shoulder occur some elements of good shoulder function tend to be negatively impacted. With any good Physical Therapy program, the compromised elements are found and targeted with exercise to restore function....
The World of Hangboard Somewhere along your jaunt down the nice wandering cobble set path of life you were unexpectedly jabbed by the climbing bug, its infectious poison penetrating all the way into your soul, leaving your mind consumed with the indomitable desire to get vertical. The only way you have found to cull the...
As climbers, we know that finger strength and endurance are key factors in our performance on the wall. That’s why it’s essential to stay informed about the latest research on the finger pulley system—the intricate network of tendons and ligaments that support our finger joints. In this article, we will explore the findings of a...
Strength training is not utilized by rock climbers enough! While many people assume that strength training is only for building muscle, showing off the biceps, and being able to campus better, there are numerous additional benefits that directly carry over into improving your climbing performance. In this article, we will explore the various benefits of...