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