Numerous conditions can cause rock climbing-related elbow pain. According to the Climbing Injuries website, rock climbers commonly experience shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand injuries. Rock climbing is a challenging activity that involves an equal amount of upper and lower body strength and muscular endurance. It also requires a highly trained cardiovascular system and a high degree of finesse and technique. Although some rock climbing-related elbow injuries are caused by trauma, most elbow injuries among rock climbers are due to repetitive strain.
Anatomy
The elbow is an important upper extremity joint situated between the wrist and the shoulder. The elbow allows a person to bend and straighten her arm. It is the attachment point for numerous muscles, tendons and ligaments. The elbow joint is formed by the upper end of the ulna--the larger of the two long bones in the forearm--and the lower end of the humerus, or upper arm bone. Surrounding the elbow are bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs located between bone and overlying tendons or ligaments. The bursae help decrease friction between these tissues during elbow movement.
Causes
Numerous injuries or conditions can cause elbow pain among rock climbers. According to the Hughston Clinic--a Columbus, Ga.-based sports medicine clinic--rock climbing is a vigorous and demanding activity that can lead to many types of upper extremity injuries, including elbow injuries. Common elbow injuries among rock climbers include lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, and cubital fossa problems, such as inflammation and strain of the biceps and brachialis muscles. Other elbow injuries seen among climbers include medial epicondylitis, or golfer's elbow, and inflammation of the triceps tendon, or triceps tendinitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms associated with rock climbing-related elbow pain largely depend on the cause of the pain, the extent of injury or tissue damage and the type of tissues affected. However, common signs and symptoms associated with rock climbing-related elbow injuries include aching, burning or sharp pain in the affected area, decreased elbow joint range of motion, bruising and swelling in or around the elbow, redness of the skin overlying the affected area, elbow stiffness and numbness or tingling in the forearm or hand.
Risk Factors
Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing rock climbing-related elbow pain. Among these factors are repetitive strain associated with an excessive amount of time spent climbing, relying too heavily on the upper body musculature to climb vertical routes, inefficient climbing technique, failing to use sufficient protection and falling from a great height. Other possible risk factors associated with rock climbing-related elbow pain include hand and forearm muscle weakness and failing to take sufficient time to recover between climbs.
Treatment
Most rock climbing-related injuries, including elbow injuries, respond well to conservative care methods. Common conservative care methods used to treat elbow injuries among rock climbers include rest, ice, compression, activity modification and gentle stretching or range of motion exercises. Forearm and wrist strengthening exercises also can help treat or prevent some rock climbing-related elbow injuries. Manual medicine techniques, such as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, trigger point therapy and massage therapy, also may be effective. Chiropractic care, acupuncture and certain physical therapy modalities can help reduce elbow pain and speed healing of injured elbow tissue.
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