Types of climbing:
(1) bouldering
(2) face climbing
(3) buildings ("buildering")
Basic hand grips used in rock climbing:
(1) open grip (grasping large handholds)
(2) cling grip (hyperextending the distal interphalangeal joints)
(3) pocket grip (inserting fingers in small holes)
(4) pinch grip (pinching rock between thumb and forefinger)
(5) crack climbing (wedging fingers, hands or feet into cracks)
Injuries to the fingers:
(1) acute or chronic pain in the distal interphalangeal or proximal interphalangeal joints
(2) digital avulsion injuries to distal or proximal interphalangeal joint
(3) sprains and tears of the collateral ligament of the proximal interphalangeal joint
(4) injury to the A2 pulley of the flexor sheath
(5) fixed flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint
(6) rupture of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon
(7) tendon nodules
(8) sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament of the first metacarpophalangeal joint
Additional hand injuries:
(1) abrasions ("gobies")
(2) carpal tunnel syndrome
(3) long-term degenerative arthritis
(4) fracture of phalangeal, carpal or forearm bones
(5) crush injury
(6) overuse injury
(7) splinters
(8) damage to fingernails
(9) hypertrophic scar tissue
Many rock climbers will continue to climb despite injury. This may make an existing injury worse or result in new injury.
