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Wrist Injuries

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Climbing Medicine

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Abstract

Overuse damage to the wrist, metacarpus, and distal forearm are among the most common sport-related complaints of climbing athletes. Acute injuries in this region of the body are relatively rare and usually occur when falling to the ground (bouldering) or when colliding directly with a wall (rope climbing). In recent years, pain syndromes and overstrain reactions of the wrist have been diagnosed with increasing frequency (see Chapter “Injury Statistics”). One reason for this seems to be the rapid spread of bouldering, in which athletes often repetitively perform difficult movements and wrist-straining moves. An early correct diagnosis is crucial because a delayed correct diagnosis of overload symptoms can lead to serious conditions with long downtimes. Protective measures of overuse reactions of the wrist, metacarpus, and distal forearm are limited to early stress reduction upon initial wrist pain and a fast and correct diagnosis with appropriate therapy. Circular wrist tape for stabilization during sport can also be used by affected athletes (see Chap. 22, “Taping”).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Christoph Lutter

  2. Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Center of Sportsmedicine, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany

    Volker Schöffl

  3. School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Becket University, Leeds, UK

    Volker Schöffl

  4. Section of Wilderness Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA

    Volker Schöffl

  5. Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Volker Schöffl

Authors
  1. Christoph Lutter
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  2. Volker Schöffl
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Sozialstiftung Bamberg, Bamberg, Bayern, Germany

    Volker Schöffl

  2. Department Of Pediatric Cardiology, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Bayern, Germany

    Isabelle Schöffl

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Christoph Lutter

  4. Orthopädie und orthopädische Chirurgie, Privatklinik Hochrum, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria

    Thomas Hochholzer

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Lutter, C., Schöffl, V. (2022). Wrist Injuries. In: Schöffl, V., Schöffl, I., Lutter, C., Hochholzer, T. (eds) Climbing Medicine . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72184-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72184-8_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-72183-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-72184-8

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