{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T12:14:26Z","timestamp":1788351266185,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775174400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":2,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Rock climbing\u2019s growing popularity has been accompanied by increasing reports of hand, finger and wrist injuries among recreational climbers. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of these injuries, identify factors associated with these injuries and assess hand providers\u2019 perspectives on climbing-related injuries.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Two retrospective cross-sectional surveys were administered. The first targeted adult recreational climbers via social media and email lists (July\u2013December 2024), and assessed demographics, climbing experience, injury history, training practices and healthcare use. The second, distributed through the American Association for Hand Surgery (September\u2013December 2024), evaluated climbing-related injuries in hand providers\u2019 practices and their perceptions of resources. Responses were collected anonymously via Research Electronic Data Capture, and multivariable logistic regression identified injury-associated factors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Among 745 recreational climbers, 77% reported \u22651 injury, most commonly to the fingers and\/or hands (70%), with joint pain\/swelling (47%), pulley injuries (47%) and flexor tendon injuries (14%) most frequent. Injury odds were higher among males, climbers with 4\u201310\u2009or &gt;11 years of experience, and those reporting fingerboard use. 44% used online resources for treatment guidance, and 47% consulted a physician. Among 85 providers, 63% treated 1\u20135 climbers annually. Although 79% incorporated sport-specific knowledge, only 39% felt they had adequate sport-specific knowledge and 25% thought adequate resources were available for patients.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Recreational climbers report a high prevalence of finger, hand and wrist injuries, with many relying on self-management. Providers report limited climbing-specific knowledge and resource availability, highlighting the need for targeted education and accessible, evidence-based guidance to support prevention and management of climbing-related injuries.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2026-003239","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T15:25:15Z","timestamp":1775229915000},"page":"e003239","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Finger, hand and wrist injuries in climbers: insights from climber and provider surveys"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-7164-5430","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stella","family":"den Hengst","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgery, Erasmus MC Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emily","family":"Powis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hand and Arm Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carrie","family":"Cooper","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rev Physical Therapy, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shawn","family":"Diamond","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Krystle R","family":"Tua\u00f1o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hand and Arm Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"},{"name":"Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026090204251197000_12.2.e003239.1","unstructured":"Outdoor Industry Association . 2025 outdoor participation trends report. 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Available: https:\/\/climbingbusinessjournal.com\/gyms-and-trends-2024\/ [Accessed 06 Aug 2025]."},{"key":"2026090204251197000_12.2.e003239.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wem.2018.11.009","article-title":"Rock Climbing Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2008-2016","volume":"30","author":"Buzzacott","year":"2019","journal-title":"Wilderness Environ Med"},{"key":"2026090204251197000_12.2.e003239.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1249\/JSR.0000000000000534","article-title":"Incidence, Diagnosis, and Management of Injury in Sport Climbing and Bouldering: A Critical Review","volume":"17","author":"Jones","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr Sports Med Rep"},{"key":"2026090204251197000_12.2.e003239.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2024-001972","article-title":"Painfully ignorant? 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