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Bollen and Wright studied the x-rays of the hands of 36 rock climbers
(mean age of 31). The x-rays of the climbers revealed that
17 of them had osteochondral cysts and 14 had osteophytes.
In addition, the climbers tended to have greater cortical
thickness and scalloping of the neck of the proximal phalanx.
(Bollen, S., Wright, V. Radiographic changes in the hands
of rock climbers. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 1994;
28:185-186.) All of this means that rock climbers get proliferative
arthritis in the finger joints because ligament injuries
to the fingers are so common among rock climbers. Sprains,
ruptures, and chronic attenuation of the collateral ligaments
of the finger (PIP) joint and the thumb metacarpophalangeal
joints occur in rock climbers. PIP joint collateral ligament
injuries predominantly involve the long finger and occur
during a maneuver known as "dynoing," meaning rapid ascension
of a rock face. As the climber ascends rapidly past a pocket
in the rock in which his or her fingers are placed, a finger
can become trapped and bent, stretching the ligament awkwardly.
Prolotherapy to the painful area is what the rock climber
should consider to not only heal the current painful
condition, but also to help prevent osteoarthritis from developing
long term.
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