Survey-Based Study on Recovery Period Differences in Upper Extremity Injuries Among Indoor Climbers by Treatment Method

A Survey-Based Study on Differences in Recovery Periods of Upper Extremity Injuries Among Indoor Climbers According to Treatment Methods

This study aims to investigate the differences in recovery periods of upper extremity injuries among indoor climbers according to their treatment methods.

The research focuses on comparing the recovery duration, specifically the time to return to climbing, between those who received professional physical therapy and those who relied on self-treatment or other conservative management.

Additionally, this survey-based observational study seeks to explore how individual and training-related factors - such as warm-up duration, climbing frequency, and years of experience - affect the occurrence and recurrence of upper extremity injuries.

Participants will complete an online questionnaire consisting of demographic data, climbing habits, injury characteristics, treatment methods, and recovery outcomes.

The data will be collected anonymously and analyzed to determine whether the type of treatment correlates with faster recovery or reduced reinjury risk.

The findings are expected to provide foundational evidence for developing effective rehabilitation and injury-prevention strategies for indoor climbers, and to guide clinicians and trainers in selecting appropriate treatment approaches for upper extremity injuries.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Upper Extremity Injury

Detailed Description

This cross-sectional survey will recruit indoor climbers aged 18-50 who have experienced upper extremity injuries within the past 12 months.

The questionnaire includes sections on injury site and type (e.g., finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder; tendonitis, ligament injury, or muscle tear), treatment method (self-care, physical therapy, injection, surgery, or rehabilitation exercise), treatment duration, and perceived recovery status.

Statistical analysis will be performed to compare mean recovery periods among treatment groups and to examine correlations with demographic and behavioral factors.

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Sahmyook University (IRB No. 2025-06-034-002).

Results from this research may contribute to improved understanding of injury management and evidence-based rehabilitation for indoor climbers.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 300

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Changyong Choi, PT, MPT Candidate; Phone Number: +82-10-7184-3782; Email: libetoi2@naver.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Seungwon Lee, PhD, PT; Phone Number: +82-2-3399-1638; Email: swl@syu.ac.kr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study will include indoor climbers aged 18 to 50 who experienced an upper extremity injury related to climbing within the past 12 months and received any form of treatment. Participants will be recruited from climbing communities, gyms, and online platforms. Only non-professional climbers will be included to ensure generalizability to the general indoor climbing population.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18-50 years.
• Individuals who have participated in indoor climbing within the past 12 months.
• Individuals who have experienced an upper extremity injury (e.g., finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder; tendonitis, ligament injury, muscle tear) during indoor climbing within the past 12 months.
• Individuals who received any form of treatment (self-care, physical therapy, injection, surgery, rehabilitation exercise) for the injury.
• Individuals who can provide informed consent and complete an online questionnaire.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who underwent major orthopedic surgery or fracture-related surgery unrelated to climbing.
• Individuals who required hospitalization or long-term inpatient treatment (>3 months) due to severe musculoskeletal conditions.
• Individuals currently receiving ongoing treatment for the same injury.
• Individuals with neurological, systemic, or medical conditions that significantly affect musculoskeletal recovery.
• Climbing coaches, professional climbers, or clinicians providing treatment (to avoid expert bias).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Self-Treatment Group; Participants who treated their upper extremity injury through self-managed care such as rest, cold/heat therapy, taping, or over-the-counter medication.
Physical Therapy Group; Participants who received professional non-surgical physical therapy, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
Injection Therapy Group; Participants who received non-surgical injection treatments such as prolotherapy, PRP, or steroid injections for upper extremity injury.
Surgery/Rehabilitation Group; Participants who underwent surgical or invasive procedures followed by rehabilitation or exercise-based recovery programs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean Recovery Duration (Weeks) According to Treatment Type	The average number of weeks required for indoor climbers to achieve full recovery and return to climbing after upper extremity injury, compared across treatment types (self-care, physical therapy, injection, surgery/rehabilitation).	12 months (retrospective survey)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reinjury Rate Within 12 Months	Proportion of indoor climbers who experienced a recurrent upper-extremity injury in the same anatomical region within the past 12 months.	12 months
Pain Resolution Duration (Weeks)	Number of weeks required for complete pain resolution after upper-extremity injury, based on participant recall.	12 months (retrospective survey)
Return-to-Climbing Criteria (Self-Reported)	Self-reported criteria participants used to determine readiness to resume climbing after upper-extremity injury (e.g., full pain resolution, daily activity tolerance, strength recovery).	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sahmyook University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Changyong Choi, PT, MPT Candidate, Sahmyook University; Study Chair: Seungwon Lee, PhD, PT, Sahmyook University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Schoffl V, Popp D, Kupper T, Schoffl I. Injury trends in rock climbers: evaluation of a case series of 911 injuries between 2009 and 2012. Wilderness Environ Med. 2015 Mar;26(1):62-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2014.08.013.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 12, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 12, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy; Upper Limb; Bouldering; Sports Injury; Injury Recovery; Indoor Climbing; Self-Treatment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Athletic Injuries; Arm Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025-06-034-002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: This study does not collect individual participant data (IPD) such as raw clinical data or identifiable records. All survey responses are anonymized, aggregated, and analyzed at the group level. Therefore, there is no IPD available to share.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No