Climber's back--form and mobility of the thoracolumbar spine leading to postural adaptations in male high ability rock climbers.

In elite climbers, the development of "climber's back" has often been subjectively referred to. However no scientific proof is present. In a cross-sectional cohort study, the spines of 80 healthy asymptomatic male sport climbers were examined. The performance-oriented sport climbers (SC) trained regularly (9.8 +/- 4.3 hr/wk) and had a mean climbing ability of 9.7 +/- 0.6; the 34 recreational climbers (control group) (RC) climbed less frequently (3.4 +/- 2.0 hr/wk) and had a mean climbing ability of 6.0 +/- 0.9. Measurement of the sagittal thoracolumbar spine was performed using the "SpinalMouse". The kyphosis angle in the erect posture was significantly greater in SC verses the RC. The lordosis angle was also greater in SC versus RC but did not reach significance. No significant differences were found in flexion and extension. Further evaluation of the SC group was carried out by subdividing them to a moderate group (SC-moderate) (n = 17) and top-level group SC-top level) (n = 29). Here the kyphosis angle was significantly greater in SC-top-level than in SC-moderate. The results demonstrated that "climber's back" was characterized by an increased thoracic kyphosis, increased lumbar lordosis, and was probably influenced by shortened pectoralis muscles. The climbing ability level was strongly correlated to the postural adaptations.

Finger pain in rock climbers: reaching the right differential diagnosis and therapy.

Injuries and overuse syndromes of the fingers are the most common problems in rock climbers. While injuries to the finger flexor pulley system and tenosynovitis are well known to be frequent problems, other syndromes like the lumbrical shift syndrome or flexor tendon ganglions are rather unknown. The differential diagnosis of finger pain in rock climbers involves many differential diagnoses and can be quite difficult. The diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the evaluation of finger pain in rock climbers are demonstrated. More than 20 different diagnoses need to be considered. After taking a thorough history, clinical examination and radiography the ultrasound is the most helpful diagnostic aid. Being a cheap and harmless examination it provides plenty of information for further differential diagnosis. A linear array transducer with 10-12 MHz in a prone position performing longitudinal and transversal planes is mostly used. Only occasionally an additional MRI is necessary. The physiologic adaptations due to the high impact of rock climbing onto the fingers need to be strictly separated from pathologic change. The rising number of epiphyseal fractures in young climbers must be observed critically and information needs to be given out to parents, trainers and the athletes themselves. The question of the influence of high intensive climbing and training in young age and a possible higher risk for osteoarthrosis of the finger joints needs to be further explored.

Development of a performance diagnosis of the anaerobic strength endurance of the forearm flexor muscles in sport climbing.

The anaerobic strength endurance of the forearm flexor muscles represents the main limiting factor in modern sports climbing. Only isometric testing has been performed so far in order to evaluate this factor. Since climbing involves intermittent isometric contraction as well as dynamic movements, a pure isometric testing is too unspecific. The present paper demonstrates a specific performance diagnosis using a rotating climbing wall as a climbing ergometer. Twenty-eight male climbers performed a step test. According to their climbing level they were divided into three groups with different inclinations of the wall. Maximum blood lactate was 5.0 +/- 1.3 mmol/l (mean +/- sd), climbing length 39.1 +/- 15.7 m, and heart rate 185 +/- 10.7 bpm. The mean number of steps performed was 5.8 +/- 2.5 and the mean slope of the blood lactate graph (regression equation) was 0.57 +/- 0.4. The specific climbing recovering ability is documented with the so called heart rate difference and additionally the positive effects of a non specific, aerobic, basic endurance training are demonstrated. A mathematical analysis of the most important performance limiting test results enabled us to determine a strength-endurance factor that can be applied for cross- and longitudinal-section comparisons.