Climbing Shoulder Injuries.

If you feel a sensation of “popping” or “crackling” at your shoulder as you reach for that gaston or jug you might be experiencing the start of SIS- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Climbers are particularly susceptible to SIS because they are always reaching overhead – higher, higher, higher for that next hold.

That nagging pain that you may experience at the shoulder is likely inflammation of tendons of the rotator cuff getting “pinched”. If it continues, the only thing you may be reaching for is a bottle of pain killers. In worst case scenarios SIS can lead to surgery.

Steph Davis answered a letter to Katie that asked for tips on how to deal with shoulder injuries.

I know that you definitely want to go to a doctor and get diagnosed. I have six friends who were diagnosed with the type of injury that can be surgically corrected. All of them wanted to avoid surgery, so they spent a year (or more) trying to rehab the shoulder, with a lot of frustration. All of them finally “gave up”…