Injury Rates, Patterns, Mechanisms, and Risk Factors Among Competitive Youth Climbers in the United States

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Sports Injury
• Climbing Biomechanics

Background:

• Competitive rock climbing is rapidly growing among youth.
• Existing research on climbing injuries predominantly focuses on adults.
• There is a need for studies specifically examining injuries in competitive youth climbers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the injury rate in competitive youth climbers.
• To describe the patterns and mechanisms of these injuries.
• To identify risk factors associated with climbing injuries in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Competitive youth climbers completed anonymous questionnaires detailing injuries over 12 months.
• Injury rates were calculated, and statistical analyses identified associated risk factors.

Main Results:

• The overall injury rate was 2.7 injuries per 1000 climbing hours.
• Hand and finger injuries were most prevalent, often due to chronic overuse.
• Significant risk factors included bouldering discipline, climbing through pain, finger taping, increased climbing volume, higher difficulty, and unsupervised climbing.

Conclusions:

• The injury rate in youth climbers is lower than some previous reports but higher than adult studies.
• Injury types and mechanisms align with existing literature.
• Modifiable risk factors, particularly returning to climbing while injured, require further investigation.