Can You Rock Climb With Repetitive Strain Injury Hand?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Cautiously return to climbing when your elbow is pain-free and no sooner than after two to four weeks of strength-training exercise

. Begin with easy, foot-oriented climbing for the first few weeks, and limit use of the crimp grip. Cease climbing if you experience pain while climbing and immediately return to step 2.

How do I stop my hands from ripping when rock climbing?

  1. Wash Your Hands After Climbing. This first technique is simple, yet important. …
  2. Apply Climbing Salve or Lotion Before Bed. …
  3. File Your Calluses. …
  4. Try Different Chalk. …
  5. Minimize Exposure to Hot Water.

Does rock climbing damage your hands?

Rock climbers, especially at more advanced levels,

routinely expose their fingers and hands to intense mechanical stress by supporting part or all of their body weight on their fingers

. Most climbers are quite aware of the potential for soft tissue injuries, but also express concern regarding osteoarthritis (OA).

Is Tiger Balm good for RSI?

Massage can also be used to treat RSI and if your pain is not too bad, you can try this yourself.

I recommend using Tiger Balm ointment

. Massage this into the area that is sore and the surrounding tissue.

How do you climb without an injury?

  1. Take Rest Days. Overuse injuries are the most common ailments that climbers face. …
  2. Avoid Over Gripping. …
  3. Use Skin Balm on Your Fingers. …
  4. Cross Train. …
  5. Warm Up Before You Climb.

How do you cure a climbing finger?

Treatment. –

Refrain from all climbing, split the finger and keep swelling down

. -Gentle finger motion and light strengthening exercises, wear tape during the day. -Continue H-taping the injured finger up to six months, but no longer.

What is flexor tendon?

Flexor tendons

run from the forearm to the ends of the fingers across the palm side of the hand

. They control the ability to bend fingers down to the palm (for example to make a fist, grip, or pinch objects). When these tendons are cut or injured, it can be impossible to bend the fingers or thumb.

Can I climb with sore fingers?

The patient is to

immediately cease climbing and any other activity that puts stress on the injured finger

, and consult a doctor if there is noticeable “bowstringing” on the flexor tendon or if unsure about the nature of the injury.

Can rock climbing cause carpal tunnel?


Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is becoming more common in climbers because of the repetitive use of the wrist flexors (the muscles in front of our wrists) to grip holds

. The median nerve, which runs under the wrist flexors, can become compressed if the wrist is in a flexed position repetitively (think projecting on slopers).

Is climbing good for your hands?

Others claim climbing can lead to early Osteoarthritis, so is climbing badly for your fingers?

No climbing is not bad for your fingers, at least not when done right

. Improper technique can lead to injuries, but proper climbing strengthens the tendons in hands and fingers, but over a long period of time.

What do climbers use on their hands?

Just before starting a climb,

rubbing alcohol

might be applied to the hands to clean them of sweat and grime and help evaporate surface sweat. Then the hands are covered with a layer of climbing chalk, pure magnesium carbonate.

Why do climbers file their fingers?

The goal of sanding down your fingers is

to encourage even & smooth callus growth

. You don’t want the thick layers that tend to build up around the finger joints. Too much callus can get caught on rough edges on some holds & is likely to cause skin tears or flappers.

Do rock climbers wear gloves?


Nope. Gloves may protect your skin, but they prevent you from properly feeling the holds

. For climbing, feeling the friction and the details of the holds helps you better “stick” to them. Your skin will be sore at first but over time it will toughen up and develop small callouses so it won’t hurt anymore.

How can I strengthen my hands and wrists for climbing?

How do you strengthen your wrist for rock climbing?

Slowly push your hands down until you feel a stretch in your wrists and forearms. Pause for a second, spread your fingers wide, pause for another second, then reverse the movement to the starting position. Repeat twice more.

How do rock climbers strengthen tendons?

To provide tendon cells with the necessary amino acids to strengthen structural and force transfer proteins, you must

consume the vitamin C-enriched hydrolyzed collagen 30 to 60 minutes before training

—Supercharged Collagen is the only product designed specifically for hard-training climbers and other tendon-straining …

How do you climb with an injured finger?

How do you know if a tendon is torn in your finger?

If your extensor tendons are damaged,

you’ll be unable to straighten 1 or more fingers

. If your flexor tendons are damaged, you’ll be unable to bend 1 or more fingers. Tendon damage can also cause pain and swelling (inflammation) in your hand.

How do you strengthen finger tendons?

How do I know if I tore a tendon in my hand?

  1. Inability to bend or straighten one or more of the finger joints.
  2. Pain when bending or straightening the finger or tenderness on the palm side of the hand along the finger.

What does a torn ligament in hand feel like?

Signs of a ligament injury include

pain and swelling that’s similar to many other hand and wrist injuries

. The wrist may also look bruised or discolored, and feel painful for several weeks. In some cases, a ligament injury may go undiagnosed, causing the joint to heal improperly.

Do fingers have tendons or ligaments?


Fingers are constructed of ligaments (strong supportive tissue connecting bone to bone), tendons (attachment tissue from muscle to bone)

, and three phalanges (bones). There are no muscles in the fingers; and fingers move by the pull of forearm muscles on the tendons.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.