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brainbucket
Nov 12, 2003, 1:07 AM
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I am wondering how much climbing is too much. I have been at it for about 6 months and am terrible but I have alot of fun. And I am getting better.
When I read in the technique and training forum, alot of people say to climb as much as you can and others say to not overdo it or you will get injured. I definitely want to avoid injuries at all costs (of course) but also want to improve my climbing. Every once in a while I fell a little pain in my elbows. It does not feel like muscle pain and it is a bit sharp but not too strong. Could this be tendons?
So, how much climbing do you all recommend?
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sbclimber
Nov 12, 2003, 2:28 AM
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climb as much as you can...thats what I say. I dont think many people have the luxury of climbing too much.
Most have work/school/something to occupy mmuch of our time.
If not I would be out EVERY single day.
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boulderqt
Nov 12, 2003, 3:39 AM
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It is very rare that anyone climbs to much. so i would recomend that you climb as much as you want to. the only time i would say you are climbing too much is if you are climbing every single day for more then say 4 hours. that would be a lil to much. just because your muscles and tendons need time to repair.
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cgarrett
Nov 12, 2003, 3:51 AM
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When I started climbing, I had elbow pain that sounds like what you're describing. interstingly, I found that if I'd stop and do pushups--only about 10 or so, that the pain would get better. I don't know why, unless it just works antagonistic muscles/tendons. It's not a problem for me anymore.
I climb for an hour at the gym at least twice a week, and I get outside at least every other weekend, or as much as my wife will tolerate.
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anchor_shark
Nov 12, 2003, 3:58 AM
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I think I can take your dog on a sport route. He's lacking the thumbs. He might take me on Free Soloing though :D Nice pic by the way. Now if I can just train my Huskies to hop down off a three foot ledge.
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taraus_de_bull
Nov 12, 2003, 4:14 AM
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listen to your body, it will tell you when you've had too much.
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hawgdrver
Nov 12, 2003, 4:26 AM
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Deleted
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mrme
Nov 12, 2003, 5:16 AM
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In reply to: listen to your body, it will tell you when you've had too much.
right on dude
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mrme
Nov 12, 2003, 5:19 AM
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In reply to: I think I can take your dog on a sport route. He's lacking the thumbs. He might take me on Free Soloing though :D Nice pic by the way. Now if I can just train my Huskies to hop down off a three foot ledge.
i wonder if it jumped down don't see to many dogs jump backwards :? though what you say makes since! i wonder how they got that shot too!
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supasteve
Nov 12, 2003, 5:35 AM
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when u first start climbing, climbing many days in a row can help you build good technique but isnt very good for strength because you arent giving your body a chance to heal, just be careful not to tweak your tendons because they need to recover and putting continuous strain on them can mess them up. it sounds like the problem you have in your elbows is some sort of tendonitis, you could try doing wrist curls with a low weight everytime you climb to build up the antagonist muscles but other than that im not too sure what you could do, really the best advice is listen to your body, just like everyone else said
steve
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fredo
Nov 12, 2003, 5:55 PM
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As much as you can tolerate, pain wise. Listen to your body dude, it will let you know when you are over doing it. Simple rule..if it hurts then do not do it. IMO climbing is a combination of physical strength, mental strength and cardio fitness. The first and the last you can work on all the time, the mental side comes with experience. Depending on the type of climbing you enjoy this could come rather fast or slowly over a few years. So it really is person specific. Personally I would climb just about everyday if my schedule allowed.
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buzzard
Nov 12, 2003, 6:15 PM
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When I first started climbing I would climb 5 to 6 days a week for four hours at a time. I would stick to the ones that I could do, but I would always try one that I knew I was unable to do. I think I know what you are talking about the pain you get in your arm. When you are reaching up for the next hold is you elbow out to the side? Kind of like a chicken wing. If that is the case try to keep straight up and down. It may help, but I'm no doctor.
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fredrogers
Nov 12, 2003, 6:39 PM
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Because your elbows are giving you pain, that should be a clear sign that you are not giving yourself enough rest. Unless you are climbing extremely easy (for you) routes than you should probably not exceed 4 or 5 days of climbing per week. And even then, you should have "hard days" and "easy days". If you are primarily bouldering than you should climb 3 or 4 days a week because these workouts take longer to recover from. Go for quality not quantity.
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brainbucket
Nov 12, 2003, 9:16 PM
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I see... thanks for the tips everyone. I think I'll stick to my routine of climbing all day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
climb on!
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msecoda
Nov 12, 2003, 9:23 PM
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Is there such a thing as too much??? :D
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willing_and_abel
Nov 13, 2003, 7:18 AM
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Push-ups help because it helps develop the opposite muscles in your arms pushing, instead of pulling from all the climbing. It's a good idea to always stretch and warm-up on say a traverse or easy route before you dive into your harder routes. There are many excersizes that you can do to help build your core muscles also that can help a lot in climbing; sit-ups, crunchies, wheel barrow, or bridges (a bridge is where you lay down and put all your body weight on your elbows and toes arching your back a bit and breathing 10-15 times before resting... 3 or so sets of that and move your arms out the better you get striving to hold all your weight with an arched back on your toes and fingertips).
Lockoff pull ups are good too but I forget exactly how to do those...
hope that helps
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josephine
Nov 13, 2003, 9:03 PM
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Climb as much as you can,and stop when you feel really sore...don't burn your muscles,listen to what your body says.It knows more than you :wink:
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majoringinclimbing
Dec 13, 2003, 1:24 AM
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Most important when you are climbing a lot is to stretch and warm up. This will prevent a lot of injuries. As for how much to climb your body will tell you. I usually climb 4-5 days a week and try to climb hard one day and light the next. Be sure to rest if you are really sore or injured, as much as it sucks it will pay off in the long run.
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gregtrammell
Dec 13, 2003, 3:54 AM
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I don't think you can really climb too much. You said your getting better. As you climb more, your improvements will begin to become fewer and further between. However, if your out having fun climbing that's all that matters.
So, if you feel like your not getting any better, and want to improve, you can take a couple of weeks off and then head back to the gym/crag. Usually you will begin to improve from your previous ability. Just keep on climbing.
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mcgardogen
Dec 13, 2003, 4:36 AM
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I used to get that too, and someone told me it was just because I was building muscle there. The way it went away for me was climbing and then climbing some more. But as the infamous Lavaar Burton says, "Don't take my word for it!"
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krestkid
Dec 13, 2003, 4:42 AM
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I climb almost everyday but feel like I am making no improvement. Maybe I'll take some time off this Christmas break and see how things turn out??
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overlord
Dec 13, 2003, 9:31 AM
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climb no more than 4 days each week and not more than twodays in a row.
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climber49er
Dec 14, 2003, 5:18 AM
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I don't know how much you should climb but I know it's too much when you start dreaming about it.
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haldurin
Dec 16, 2003, 9:03 PM
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I'm climbing 3-4 times a week. I'm trying not to climb 3 times in a row, because my body needs time to regenerate.
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