Studies in Sport Medicine

Prevalence, Frequency, and Anatomical Areas of Physical Injuries in Indoor Climbers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mehdi Gheitasi
Rezaei Hossein

Health and Sport Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Sport Science and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22089/smj.2026.18493.1828
Abstract
Objective: Rock climbing is a sport activity that is usually performed outdoors on natural rocks or indoors on artificial supports and surfaces. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence rate, frequency, and anatomical regions of various sports injuries in indoor rock climbers.
Materials and Methods: The present study was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-field and retrospective in terms of data collection. The statistical population of the study was indoor rock climbers in Tehran. In order to investigate the prevalence and frequency of injuries, Wright and Jones questionnaires were used. In order to investigate the relationship between risk factors for injuries in indoor rock climbing, a logistic regression test was performed using SPSS version 27 at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: About 84.4% of the respondents suffered from overuse injuries and 69.4% from overtraining injuries. The most common limb involved in injury was the fingers. Data analysis showed that sports history, number of climbs per year, difficulty of training route, and number of sessions per week had a direct impact on climbers' injuries. The main sources of treatment or advice for climbers were physiotherapists with 34.7%.
Conclusion: Many climbers suffer from overuse injuries. Those with the greatest ability and expertise in climbing are at the highest risk.

Keywords

Indoor climbing
prevalence
pathology
Anatomical Areas
Subjects
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Studies in Sport Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 47
Spring 2026
Pages 69-58

  • Receive Date 08 September 2025
  • Revise Date 04 January 2026
  • Accept Date 05 February 2026

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