Survey of injuries among Slovenian sport climbers.

Abstract

Background: Rock climbing is associated with a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries, yet limited data exist for Slovenian sport climbers. Understanding the prevalence, types, and mechanisms of injuries is essential for developing targeted prevention strategies.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 191 Slovenian sport climbers registered with the national federation. The questionnaire assessed demographics, climbing characteristics, and injury-related variables using the UIAA injury definition. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn-Šidák post-hoc) and Spearman correlations examined associations between injury counts and climbing variables.

Results: Overall incidence was 5.2 injuries per 1000 climbing hours. Men sustained more injuries than women (2.8±3.1 vs. 2.0±2.6; P=0.022). The number of injuries correlated weakly with weekly climbing hours (ρ=0.20; P=0.005) and climbing difficulty (ρ=0.20; P=0.007). A strong positive correlation was found between climbing experience and climbing difficulty (ρ=0.55; P<0.001). Upper extremity injuries predominated (82%), particularly fingers (50%), shoulders (32%), and elbows (16%).

Conclusions: Slovenian climbers exhibit a high injury burden, dominated by finger and shoulder injuries. Gender differences appear behavioral, reflecting route selection rather than exposure. Preventive routines were not associated with lower injury frequency, highlighting the need for specific, climbing-oriented programs, such as a joint-by-joint training approach. Future prospective studies should incorporate objective biomechanical assessments, to refine prevention and rehabilitation strategies.