| Have you ever suffered a rock climbing injury? If you | | | | probably didn't but it is true when we take the time to |
| are like most rock climbers the answer is a resounding | | | | properly prepare our body it is ready for the task at |
| yes. You see rock climbing can be very hard on your | | | | hand and will perform even better. |
| body especially if are not doing the things you should | | | | Not too mention by warming up and cooling down your |
| be. Before we get into all of that let's talk about some | | | | body your decrease your chance of injury dramatically. |
| common rock climbing injuries. | | | | So how should you warm up? |
| -Climbers Elbow | | | | I use a several steps and recommend you do the |
| -Tendinitis | | | | same. Start by doing some jumping jacks, jogging, |
| -Strained or pulled finger pulleys (most common pulley | | | | running in place, or any form of cardio to get your |
| injury is the A2 pulley) | | | | heart rate up and your blood moving. You only need to |
| -Injured Hamstrings | | | | do about 5 minutes of this. |
| -Shoulder injuries | | | | After the blood is moving I recommend you do some |
| Now all five of these rock climbing injuries can put you | | | | light stretching. Start with some shoulder circles, neck |
| out of commission for weeks or even months, not too | | | | rolls, and forearm stretches. Be sure to breathe deeply |
| mention I have seen rock climbers who had to literally | | | | during your stretching and hold each stretch for at |
| have surgery to heal from these injuries. Now if you | | | | least 30 seconds. Stretch out all the muscles in your |
| are like me and you go through withdrawals from not | | | | upper body including your hands and finger joints. |
| being able to climb, you don't want to get injured. | | | | Don't forget to stretch out your calves, hamstrings, and |
| Especially when a majority of time you can prevent | | | | quads. A lot of climbers don't even bother with this and |
| the injuries in the first place. | | | | that is why when they need to do a powerful heel |
| Let me explain. Most climbers do a lot of things that | | | | hook their hamstring hurts for days on end. |
| don't protect them from injury. Now I do not have time | | | | After your stretching it is important to do some |
| in this article to go through that entire list but I will point | | | | moderate routes for your ability before you try |
| you in the right direction for more information if you | | | | anything really hard. This will help you loosen up and |
| would like. In this article I am just going to talk about the | | | | prepare your body for the demands you will place on |
| #1 cause of rock climbing injury. | | | | it. |
| So what is the #1 cause? | | | | After you do a couple routes do some additional light |
| Above and beyond everything else this one thing is by | | | | stretching and now you and your body should be |
| far the major cause for rock climbing injury. A drum roll | | | | ready to go. |
| please...a simple as it may seem the #1 cause for | | | | After climbing hard all day be sure to do at least one |
| climbing injuries is not warming up and cooling down | | | | easy route and stretch everything out once again. If |
| properly. Now before you completely dismiss this and | | | | you are able to do some light jogging, hiking, or even |
| stop reading now let me explain. This is really | | | | some jumping jacks after your climbing session. This |
| important, trust me I know after being injured and out | | | | will cool the body down and disperse the lactic acid in |
| of climbing for nearly 6 months a few years back. | | | | your forearms to help recovery. |
| Our bodies are capable of doing many great things, but | | | | I know this might seem hard for some but this little bit |
| when we look at climbing we see our bodies having to | | | | of extra work will keep you climbing injury free and |
| do very brute, powerful, and unorthodox things. We | | | | keep your body in better health. Not too mention you |
| are heel hooking, mantling top outs, dynoing for holds, | | | | will be able to climb harder and longer. |
| snatching up tiny crimps and monos, etc. All of these | | | | So the choice is yours if you want to improve your |
| things can be very hard on the body especially if your | | | | climbing while protecting yourself from injury follow my |
| body is not warm. | | | | advice. If not don't come crying to me when you |
| Did you know your body can perform better by 20% | | | | cannot climb. |
| or warm when it is properly warmed up? You | | | | |