Background and Purpose
Mountaineering is a popular sport encompassing a broad spectrum of activities, from hiking to scaling peaks exceeding 8,000 meters in altitude. The occurrence of sports injuries within mountaineering, among both male and female athletes, presents significant concerns for health, treatment, and economic costs, warranting dedicated attention from medical and sports science experts. Studies reflect a high frequency and prevalence of mountaineering-related injuries, underscoring the necessity for systematic follow-up to identify contributory factors and to devise strategies aimed at reducing injury incidence. Enhancing mountaineers’ awareness regarding risk factors is crucial, as injuries may result in temporary or permanent disability, preventing athletes from participating in sports and competitions. Understanding injury types and causative elements is essential for implementing preventive methods that effectively diminish injury rates. Given the limited data on the prevalence, severity, and characterization of injuries in high-altitude mountaineering—and acknowledging the sport’s growing prominence—conducting epidemiological research, particularly prospective studies involving both male and female mountaineers, is vital for informing injury prevention strategies and promoting athlete safety.
 
Methods
This investigation represents applied epidemiological research employing a descriptive-analytical method through prospective data collection. The study population comprised male and female mountaineers aged 25 to 40 years who had ascended elevations above 3,000 meters within the past year. Individuals engaged in other sports or with histories of non-sport or non-climbing related injuries were excluded from the study.
A total of 200 participants (100 men and 100 women) with at least two years of mountaineering experience residing in Tehran Province were recruited through continuous coordination with the Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation and affiliated centers. Prior to enrollment and questionnaire distribution, the researchers screened all candidates for eligibility concerning inclusion and exclusion criteria, including inquiries about prior orthopedic surgeries or disease history. Anthropometric data including height and weight were recorded.
Following informed consent, participants completed personal information forms and were instructed to fill out the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems (Oslo Health Problems Prospective Questionnaire) weekly for a duration of 12 weeks. The questionnaire assesses the extent to which injury or illness impacts participants’ sports participation, through four key items. Weekly reminders were sent via SMS every Saturday; non-responders were contacted by phone after three days to ensure complete and accurate data collection.
 
Results
A total of 200 mountaineers—100 women and 100 men—completed the 12-week evaluation. Participants’ ages ranged from 25 to 40 years, with a mean age of 32.4 years. Mean height was 177.6 cm for men and 162.4 cm for women, while mean weight was 77.1 kg and 58.6 kg for men and women, respectively.
Analysis indicated the highest prevalence of injuries among female mountaineers was in the knee (19%), followed by ankle injuries (11%) and lumbar spine injuries (3%). Among male mountaineers, the knee was similarly the most frequently injured site (10%), followed by ankle injuries (7%) and shoulder (including clavicle) injuries (5%).
In terms of injury severity, as evaluated by the Oslo questionnaire and measured by days of training lost, the female cohort showed that one individual reported zero days lost, 8 incurred minor losses (1–3 days), and 10 experienced moderate absences (8–28 days), with the knee injuries being the most prevalent and severe. Among male mountaineers, injury severity distribution included 1 individual with no days lost, 2 with minor absences (1–3 days), 2 with mild absences (4–7 days), 3 with moderate absences (8–28 days), and 2 with severe absences (>28 days). Overall, the number of injury-related days lost accounted for 45 in women and 38 in men, suggesting greater injury severity among female athletes.
Regarding injury etiology, during the 12-week period the female group reported 27 acute injuries and 13 overuse injuries, while the male group reported 26 acute and 11 overuse injuries. This data implies that female mountaineers suffer both acute and overuse injuries at a slightly higher rate compared to their male counterparts, highlighting particular vulnerability in this population.
 
Conclusion
Enhancing safety protocols and preventive strategies in mountaineering is imperative for improving physical activity participation and reducing injury rates among athletes. While many overuse injuries are self-limiting, complications may lead to prolonged withdrawal from training. Sports injury prevention programs have demonstrated efficacy in decreasing injury incidence and should be further developed and tailored specifically for mountaineering.
Recommendations include:
Educating mountaineers on injury prevention methods, especially targeting knee and ankle injuries.
Training prospective mountaineers on appropriate equipment use and safety standards.
Promoting a safety culture within mountaineering, emphasizing knowledge of risk factors across seasons.
Introducing novice mountaineers to fundamental strengthening, conditioning, and stretching exercises tailored to knee and ankle health.
 
Article Message
Prospective identification and characterization of mountaineering injuries in male and female athletes enable the formulation of effective preventive strategies, which can reduce injury risk and associated costs in a sport that continues to expand in popularity among athletes and the sporting community.
 
Ethical Considerations
The authors declare full adherence to publication ethics including avoiding plagiarism, misconduct, data falsification, duplicate submissions, and commercial conflicts of interest. Authors received no financial compensation for publication.
The study was approved by the Sports Sciences Research Institute Ethics Committee under code SSRI.REC-2212-2020.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceptualization: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Data Collection: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (100%)
Data Analysis: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Manuscript Writing: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Review and Editing: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Funding Responsibility: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Literature Review: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Project Management: Sara Farajollah Lavasani (50%), Mahdieh Akoochakian (20%), Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi (20%), Mostafa Zarei (10%)
Conflict of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
The authors extend heartfelt thanks to all mountaineers who willingly participated in this study, wishing them health and success in facing the challenges of mountaineering, seen metaphorically as akin to life’s ups and downs.