Climbing is one of the most liberating activities there is. Conquering a mountain (or climbing wall) is equal parts difficult and rewarding. Climbers love nothing more than chalking up their hands and working on a difficult problem, inside or outside.
In this article, we will review some of the most common climbing injuries and demonstrate how chiropractic care can help.
Climbing Injury #1: Hand Injuries
The human hand is one of the most remarkable structures in the body. It can produce incredible amounts of force and it can perform incredibly intricate movements as well.
Truth be told, professional climbers know that they need to use their whole bodies when attempting an ascent. But no matter how good a climber is, having a hand injury is a huge problem that makes climbing nearly impossible.
Climbing Injury #2: Concussions
Even with the most extensive preparations and safety measures, concussion injuries are common in every sport or activity. Falling off of a wall or mountain naturally puts the brain at huge risk for injury.
Most outdoor climbing groups and climbing gyms will require participants to wear helmets (or sign a waiver, if they choose to not wear one). The helmet may be uncomfortable, and climbers may not want to wear it, but it’s critically important to protect the brain at all costs.
Climbing Injury #3: Ankle Sprains
Interestingly, some of the most frequent injuries seen during climbing trips happen off of the mountain. Most of us become too comfortable walking through the rocky passes that lead to the climbing routes in question. As a result, many climbers can slip, misstep, and roll their ankles.
Arguably, a lower body injury can be less of a problem for climbers who participate in easy climbs. However, advanced climbers need to keep their entire body healthy and strong in order to overcome the very technical and difficult routes they attempt to traverse.
Climbing Injury #4: Shoulder Labral Tears
For all intents and purposes, there are two labrums in the body; in the hip and in the shoulder. In the shoulder, this structure deepens the pocket of the joint and allows climbers to reach, pull, and move their arms with better efficiency.
When climbers get into tricky positions on the mountain, they can put their labrums at risk for injury. A torn labrum, depending on how severe it is, can sometimes ruin a climber’s career. These injuries make it very difficult to perform some of the complex moves required of advanced climbers.
Climbing Injury #5: Back Pain
Climbing forces the body into extreme range of motion at all joints. The spine is no exception. Many climbers experience back pain that can take a long time to heal.
Back pain is a devastating injury that can affect nearly every aspect of one’s life. Therefore, avoiding this issue is always a good idea.
How Chiropractors Can Help Climbers Recover from Injury
Chiropractors work to manipulate the spine into perfect alignment. In doing so, they improve the nerve conduction between the spinal cord and the rest of the body.
This is especially important for climbers, who need to have exceptional coordination between all body parts. In fact, having decreased coordination between body areas can lead to tragic consequences, especially for those who perform free climbs or attempt more daring moves.
If you’re a climber who’s looking for a way to get a leg up on the competition, or to recover from an injury, come see your neighborhood Parker chiropractor at Awaken Chiropractic. We will help you achieve proper spinal alignment so that you can safely and effectively participate in the sport you love. Book your appointment now!
