Pulling yourself up and gripping crevices in rock faces takes a toll on your elbows. Tendons and ligaments suffer injuries through sudden or chronic overuse as well as from trauma due to falling or attempts to avoid a fall. Pain, stiffness and swelling are typical elbow-injury symptoms. Rest and ice application can help manage inflammation. Surgery or physical therapy may be needed. Talk to your doctor about your pain to determine its cause and potential treatment options.
Elbow Movement
As a hinge joint, your elbow has roughly 180 degrees of motion. Powered by muscles and tendons and held in place by ligaments, your elbow is heavily taxed during activities like climbing. Three bones --- the humerus, radius and ulna --- come together to form the joint, while three ligaments hold the bones in place. Tendons attach muscles to bones; the biceps and triceps tendons attach at the elbow, as do the brachialis, brachioradialis, pronator teres and extensor carpi radialis brevis tendons.
Tendon Injuries
Injuries to your tendons fall under two categories --- tendinitis and tendonosis. Tendinitis is an inflammation of tendon tissue. When tendon tissue degenerates the condition is known as tendonosis, which begins with microtrauma --- very small tears or injuries --- stemming from a muscle that is too strong. Tendinitis can lead to tendonosis, but either condition can also occur separately. Overusing your elbows --- climbing longer or more difficult faces than your body is accustomed to handling --- puts strain on your elbow's tendons. Poor technique is also causative; excessive crimping --- a hold that places extreme stress on elbow and finger joints --- can lead to tendon injuries.
Epicondylitis
Medial and lateral epicondylitis are common, tendon-related injuries in climbers. The epicondyles are bony protrusions on the inside or outside --- medial or lateral, respectively --- areas of the elbow. Muscles and tendons that flex the wrist are attached to a tendon on the medial epicondyle. Repeated strain of these muscles and tendons can lead to medial epicondylitis, or "golfer's elbow." Symptoms include pain along the inside of the elbow as well as the forearm and wrist. Pain on the outside of the elbow, when you grip a rock or even open a jar may stem from lateral epicondylitis, or "tennis elbow."
Other Elbow Injuries
Not as common as tendon injuries, ligament damage can occur after sudden, twisting movements of your elbow joint. Falling into a rock face or hyperextending your arm can sprain or tear ligaments that hold bones together. Ligament tears may also result in damage to the cartilage --- or cushion between bones --- in your elbow joint. Bruises, fractures and breaks can also occur, typically from traumatic falls.
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