Free Pulley Ring Demos at Class 5!
A couple weekends ago, Class 5 Climbing gym in Torrance held their anniversary party for Touchstone Climbing’s 30th anniversary. The best way I knew how to celebrate was to offer free hand and wrist screenings, along with offering free pulley ring demos!
Treating a Pulley Injury
I reference back to a case series published in 2023 often. Climbing while healing: An orthotic intervention for rock climbers with a low- grade A2 pulley injury. The article talks about the difference between using an orthosis versus just I- or H- taping. While H-taping is the better of the taping methods, taping is not rigid, allowing for soft tissue to influence the tape. The tighter you make the tape also, the more at risk for vascular limitations you pose. After a pulley injury, the last thing you want is to limit necessary blood flow and natural healing processes that go on in your body.
It was great being able to educate people who stopped by my table about this topic, along with being able to screen people for potential pulley injuries versus arthritic conditions versus tendinopathies.
Some people wanted to know if they needed a pulley ring, some people came by just curious as to how a pulley ring would be made on their finger. Some people actually needed one right then and there, and were able to take it with them.
The Follow Up
It was really exciting being able to have climbers come to the gym just because they needed this ring orthosis, however the reason why I don’t do this often (make pulley splints, or any custom splint for that matter, and just give them away) is because what is needed in addition to the splint is the follow up. I could educate as much as possible in the few minutes I was with these climbers, in terms of their tissue healing timelines and what to expect moving forward, but then that was it. What were to happen to these pulley injuries moving forward? I may never know.
Funny enough, the following Wednesday night I met up with some friends at the gym, and I saw one of my guys climbing with it!
He was 4 weeks out from irritating his A4 pulley, with an immediate improvement and relief of pain into a crimp grip. His friends boasted that he just sent this V9 problem! And I was even surprised and absolutely stoked for him! But when he casually told me he still felt pain there, I winced. I can give them as much guidance as possible through run-ins or text, but the ideal situation would be to be able to guide them through safe progressions and ensure that their healing is not delayed or prolonged.
If you’re stuck in your healing, and you think a custom brace might help, let me know! I can help. Contact me here. Let’s chat and see what you might need to 1) compliment your healing while continuing to do what you love, and ALSO 2) ensure the healing happens on time and on track.