Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Climbing, But Were Afraid To Ask

[rydra_wong]

This is a post where you can ask all the questions you're always wanted to ask about climbing, whether you've already started or are just beginning to think about maybe possibly kind of giving this a try.

Or maybe you've been climbing for decades, and have always wondered about that one thing, and by now it would be OMG TOO EMBARASSING to admit you don't know.

No topics are off-limit, no questions too clueless, so let rip and get answers from demi-n00bs experienced climbers.

Comments

[fourteenlines]

Are there reasons someone just shouldn't climb? Like, for instance, I've started taking prednisone in the last two months, and I will be on it for awhile. Prednisone saps bone density and also thins the skin, leading to brittle bones and easy bruising (and sometimes nasty gashes from something as simple as running into a chair.) I've been interested in climbing (bouldering in particular, since I have a RL friend who does it and an affordable bouldering gym nearby) for awhile, but thought that because I was overweight/unathletic/etc, I needed to wait until I was in better shape.

But Rydra's post convinced me that's not the case - except - now I have other issues, ones I didn't have before. Anyone have experience climbing with health problems that might make the choice seem crazy? Anyone specifically done any climbing while taking prednisone? How great is the risk?

[cofax7]

Oh, interesting. I guess the question is: is weight-lifting contra-indicated by taking prednisone? Because climbing is a form of weightlifting, and should help improve bone-density, but I dunno if your doctors think that engaging in it would put you at risk of injury. If that's not a problem, I do suspect you might want to concentrate on top-roping rather than bouldering, to limit the risk of falling.

I have occasionally broken the skin while climbing, but mostly outdoors. Except for when I've used my elbows or knees to stem against something: for a while I always had scabs on my elbows from stemming.

[rydra_wong]

I have occasionally broken the skin while climbing, but mostly outdoors

I always have scrapes and grazes; currently they're on the backs of my knuckles and one elbow. Before that, I did on one occasion resort to taping my knee as a particular move was shredding it even through my climbing trousers.

However, I suspect this may be partly due to my clumsiness and partly to the route-setters' remarkable sadism and fondness for knee-bars.

[jumpuphigh]

Well, I climb with Multiple Sclerosis and the choice is both crazy and sane. It's crazy cause it wipes me out and increases my symptoms but it is sane because it helps my mental health and makes me feel powerful. *shrugs* You have to weigh the benefits with the problems.

I wouldn't recommend starting climbing while pregnant but I know a number of women who have climbed or are currently climbing while pregnant. However, they were all climbers prior to getting pregnant.

If you do climb, I'd recommend getting someone to show you how to tape your fingers to protect them and add Vitamin C to your diet as that helps the skin/blood vessels heal. For me, most of my injuries have been finger stuff (skin peeling off and tendon problems) and bruises on my knees. For whatever reason, the way I move on the wall bruises my knees but that is really just my problem instead of an issue with climbing. Strength training actually increases bone density so climbing may help you there.

[rydra_wong]

For me, the bruises all congregate on my shins. I have no idea why, as I'm not conscious of banging my shins into anything while climbing *g*.

[jumpuphigh]

I know what causes my bruises. I use my knees to brace myself and I bruise easily. Sure, every once in a while, I'll bang a knee and exclaim "that's going to bruise" but mostly, they are pressure bruises.

[rydra_wong]

Thinking about it:

You may have to take extra care of the skin on your hands, as climbing can be rough on them; I get a lot of scrapes, and blisters are inevitable until you develop callouses.

But there are various climbing balms that help the skin heal much faster, and tape can be used to protect abraded spots. I don't think it'd be a major issue, just something to be aware of in advance.