| There are many risks to rock climbing. | | | | years if you train often. Medically, |
| Some of them are more serious than | | | | tendonitis is a result of overuse, |
| others and some of them are downright | | | | repetitive and sustained exertion, |
| uncommon. However, there is one common | | | | awkward sustained postures, insufficient |
| risk that many rock climbers overlook, | | | | recovery times, and cold weather. |
| the risk of chronic tendonitis. | | | | All of these are common circumstances |
| Tendonitis is a real problem that many | | | | for a climber, someone who is often |
| climbers experience and because it seems | | | | overexerting themselves in awkward |
| minor at the time they will try to climb | | | | positions and cold weather. It is no |
| through it, eventually making their | | | | wonder then that climbers contract |
| situation worse. | | | | tendonitis so often. |
| Tendonitis | | | | Treatment |
| The condition is called tendonitis | | | | If you do suffer from an inflammation of |
| because it is quite literally the | | | | one of your tendons, you must step away |
| inflammation of your tendons. It can | | | | from climbing, resting your affected |
| happen essentially anywhere in your body | | | | body part, while icing it for at least |
| and often results in more severe | | | | 24 hours and as long as 48 hours. In |
| injuries if ignored. The tendon is the | | | | addition, you should apply heat after |
| fibrous tissue that connects your bones | | | | icing to relax the muscles. Add an NSAID |
| to your muscles, meaning if you fail to | | | | pain killer such as ibuprofen as well to |
| treat it, you are weakening the | | | | reduce swelling. Tylenol works in some |
| essential connection between parts of | | | | situations, but is not nearly as |
| your body. Tendonitis can occur in your | | | | effective as aspirin or ibuprofen. |
| shoulders, forearms, elbows, or fingers | | | | Long Term Problems |
| while climbing and is usually the result | | | | If you do not deal with your tendonitis |
| of overexertion or repetitious motions | | | | quickly, it can start to become worse |
| such as using a specific hold over and | | | | and will eventually cause you your |
| over again. | | | | tendons to weaken, resulting in a |
| Tendonitis Symptoms | | | | possible tear. If your tendonitis does |
| For those suffering from tendonitis, the | | | | not subside or lessen within two weeks, |
| symptoms are often similar, regardless | | | | you should visit a doctor and discuss |
| of where it strikes. First, you will | | | | your situation for more pointed |
| notice a sharp or persistent, achy pain. | | | | treatments, including physical therapy, |
| It might become tender and start to | | | | prescription strength drugs, |
| swell, followed by a restriction of | | | | ultrasounds, or medical injection to |
| movement in the area of the injury. | | | | reduce inflammation. If your tendonitis |
| Weakness in surrounding joints will | | | | gets bad enough it may even require |
| usually follow. | | | | surgery to repair tendon damage. |
| For climbers, the most common and | | | | Tendonitis is a serious condition that |
| affective form of tendonitis is in the | | | | can eventually cause long term damage if |
| fingers. Finger tendonitis results in | | | | not handled correctly and quickly. For a |
| sharp pain in the affected finger or | | | | climber, this can mean the end of a |
| fingers along with a lingering pain that | | | | hobby or lifestyle. Take care of your |
| shoots upward to your elbow. | | | | body and ensure that if you start to |
| Why do Climbers Get Tendonitis | | | | feel the pain and discomfort of |
| Tendonitis is so common among climbers | | | | tendonitis, it is dealt with in the |
| that you can probably expect to suffer | | | | right manner. |
| from it at least once every couple of | | | | |