Fröhlich, Stefan; Schweizer, Andreas; Reissner, Lisa; Pastor, Tatjana; Spörri, Jörg; Pastor, Torsten (2021). Long term evolution of soft tissue response in the fingers of high-level sport climbers: A cross-sectional 10 Year follow-up study. Physical therapy in sport, 52, pp. 173-179. Elsevier 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.09.006
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BACKGROUND
Sport climbing induces physiological changes in the body of high-level climbers. In 2012, our study group demonstrated adaptions of elite climbers' soft tissues with thicker A2/A4-pulleys, flexor tendons and palmar plates compared to non-climbers.
OBJECTIVES
To assess these adaptations over time we examined all 31 (follow up 100%) climbers that participated in that baseline study again using ultrasonography after a follow-up of 10 years.
MAIN FINDINGS
(1) In climbers, a significant increase in A2 and A4-pulley and flexor tendon thickness over the last 10 years was observed (p < 0.001), while PIP&DIP palmar plate thickness remained unchanged (p > 0.05); (2) at 10-years follow-up, all soft tissue thickness parameters (incl. palmar plates) were still significantly larger in climbers than in age-matched controls (p < 0.05); (3) as for the association with anthropometrics and climbing performance/experience, a significant association of the current climber's soft tissue thickness could only be found between palmar plate and reached climbing level(p = 0.032) as well as climber's body weight(p = 0.004).
CONCLUSION
An accumulation of repetitive climbing-related stress to the fingers of elite sport climbers over the career induces mechano-adaptation of the A2/A4-pulleys, flexor tendons and palmar plates. At later stages, there is a further significant increase in flexor tendon and pulley thickness, but not for palmar plate thickness.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery > Hand Surgery 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery |
UniBE Contributor: |
Pastor, Tatjana |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
1873-1600 |
Publisher: |
Elsevier |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Veronika Picha |
Date Deposited: |
04 Jan 2022 10:41 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 15:56 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.09.006 |
PubMed ID: |
34547601 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Athletes Connective tissue Finger joint Overuse |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/162356 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/162356 |
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