Climbing athletes may be at risk for distinct traumatic mechanisms of knee injury
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Published results identified four distinct traumatic mechanisms of knee injuries that can occur in rock climbing and bouldering among competitive and noncompetitive athletes.
Christoph Lutter, MD, and colleagues inquired about the traumatic mechanisms of 77 acute knee injuries among 71 competitive and noncompetitive climbing athletes during a 4-year period. Researchers recorded severity levels, therapies and outcomes with VAS, Tegner, Lysholm and climbing-specific outcome scores.
Researchers identified four traumatic mechanisms of injury, including the heel hook position in 40.3% of patients, a fall to the ground in 22.1% of patients, the high step position in 20.8% of patients and the drop knee position in 16.9% of patients. Results showed 28.6% of patients experienced a medial meniscal tear, which occurred significantly more often in the noncompetitive group. Researchers noted iliotibial band strain during the heel hook position as a specific climbing injury.
Results showed 46.8% of acute knee injuries resulted from indoor bouldering. Researchers found noncompetitive climbers required surgical procedures significantly more often compared with competitive climbers. Patients had a Tegner score of approximately 5.9, a Lysholm score of approximately 97 and a climbing-specific outcome score of approximately 4.8 1 year after injury, according to results.
“Increased attention should be placed on the climber’s knee, especially given the worldwide rise of indoor bouldering,” Lutter told Healio Orthopedics. “Sport-specific awareness training programs for noncompetitive and competitive climbing athletes to avoid excessive load on the knee should be developed, and sports supervision is mandatory. More studies should help researchers weigh in further on the biomechanics of the knee during climbing.”
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