Use of closed chain exercises, eccentric exercises, and proprioceptive muscle facilitation to prevent elbow injuries in climbers: a randomized control trial

Abstract

Introduction

To determine the influence of exercises in a closed kinematic chain, exercises in eccentric mode in combination with proprioceptive muscle facilitation on the level of injuries and technical skill of amateur climbers.

Methods

The participants in this study were 84 male amateur rock climbers, aged 18–19; 40 athletes were in the Intervention Group and 44 athletes were in the Control Group. In the Intervention Group, a developed injury prevention program was used. The program included the use of neuromuscular training. Exercises for proprioceptive muscle facilitation were also used. We determined the Incidence rate ratio and confidence intervals and the reliability of the influence of the level of mastery of the technique on the number of injuries by the Cochran’s and Mantel-Haenszel methods.

Results

The use of our program reduces the Incidence rate ratio in climbers for mild, moderate and severe elbow injuries; a significant decrease was found for moderate and severe injuries. There was also a significant improvement in the results of biomechanical analysis of climbing technique in athletes in the Intervention Group (p < 0.001). There was a high reliability of the influence of the level of mastery of the technique on the number of injuries (p < 0,001).

Conclusions

The use of exercises in a closed kinematic chain, exercises in eccentric mode in combination with proprioceptive muscle facilitation reduces the Incidence rate ratio of the shoulders and increases technical skill among amateur climbers.