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General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Is climbing good for your body in the long term? 8-May-2014 At 12:02:41 PM JMK

Message

Everybody will react differently to the long term stresses of climbing. If people in a study are the fortunate ones who would not be affected then the study results would be flawed. I know of many older climbers who have climbed 30+ years and they are fine. However, I and a few others have arthritis in our fingers from long term climbing.

Royal Robbins gave up climbing in his early 40's due to finger arthritis .

Bottom line: you will not know how it will affect you until you get there. Is that a reason not to do it? That depends on you. My first climbing partner gave up climbing as his fingers were hurting. Having a passion in life is worth more than anything , certainly a bit of pain down the track. Anyway my view has always been - by the time it really bothers me then they will have a cure for it.

The bigger issue is - the longer you climb the more likely an accident of some sort. Basically it is a dangerous environment where consequences do not depend only on your own actions