Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Characteristics of Bouldering Injuries in a Major Trauma Centre

This study, conducted at a major hospital in Edinburgh, is looking back over ten years to understand more about bouldering injuries. Bouldering is a type of rock climbing done without ropes, typically on shorter walls or rocks. The researchers are collecting information from hospital records about people aged 16 and over who came in with bone and joint injuries after bouldering. This includes details like their age, gender, what kind of injury they had, and whether they needed an operation. By looking at this information, the study aims to build a clearer picture of bouldering-related injuries seen in a hospital setting. This kind of research helps medical staff and sports communities better understand potential risks and improve safety advice for bouldering enthusiasts.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

NHS Lothian

Enrolment target

176

Start

01 Jan 2015

Estimated completion

01 Aug 2026

Trauma (Including Fractures)

What is this study about?

This study is gathering information about injuries that happen while bouldering. Bouldering is a fun and increasingly popular sport where you climb on smaller walls or rocks, usually without ropes, relying on crash pads for safety. While it can be very enjoyable, like any physical activity, there's a chance of getting hurt.

Researchers at a major hospital in Edinburgh are looking back at their patient records from the last ten years. They are specifically interested in people aged 16 and over who came to the hospital with bone or joint problems that happened because of bouldering. They are collecting details such as the person's age, whether they are male or female, what type of injury they had (like a broken bone), and if they needed surgery because of it.

The main goal of this study is to understand more about bouldering injuries. By collecting and reviewing this information, doctors and medical professionals can learn more about how often these injuries occur, what parts of the body are most often affected, and how serious they can be. This knowledge can then be used to help give better advice on preventing injuries and to improve care for those who do get hurt while bouldering.

Key takeaways

This study is about bouldering injuries at a Scottish hospital.
It looks at hospital records from the past 10 years.
Focuses on bone and joint injuries in people aged 16 and over.
Uses anonymous data to understand injury patterns.
Aims to improve safety advice and care for bouldering enthusiasts.

Who may be eligible?

To be included in this study, you would have needed to be at least 16 years old at the time of your injury.

You would also have had to come to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh specifically for a bone or joint injury that happened while you were bouldering.

If you were under 16 years old when you had a bouldering injury, or if your injury wasn't a bone or joint problem, you would not be included in this particular study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Were you at least 16 years old when you had your injury?
Did your injury happen while you were bouldering?
Did you go to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for this injury?
Was your injury specifically a bone or joint problem (like a fracture)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

As this study looks back at hospital records that have already been collected, you wouldn't need to do anything extra to take part. Researchers are simply reviewing existing anonymous information from past patient visits at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. This means there are no special visits, assessments, medications, or follow-up appointments required from you. The study is already complete in terms of patient involvement, as it uses old data.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study is looking back at existing anonymised hospital records, there are no direct risks or benefits to individuals who were once patients. Your personal information remains private, as the researchers are only looking at the general details of the injury, not your name. The overall benefit of this type of study is that it helps medical professionals better understand bouldering injuries, which can lead to improved safety recommendations and treatments for others in the future. As you are not actively participating, there's no right to withdraw from providing data, as the data has already been collected and made anonymous.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

The royal infirmary of edinburgh
Verified postcode
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is bouldering?

Bouldering is a type of rock climbing done on low walls or rocks, usually without ropes, relying on thick mats (crash pads) for safety if you fall.

Why are they studying bouldering injuries?

They want to understand more about how often these injuries happen, what kind of injuries they are, and who gets them, to help improve safety and treatment.

Do I need to do anything to be part of this study?

No, this study is looking back at old hospital records, so you don't need to do anything or attend any appointments.

Will my personal information be seen?

No, the study uses anonymous information, meaning your name and other identifying details are not looked at or shared.

What kind of injuries are they looking at?

They are focusing on bone and joint injuries, like broken bones, that happened due to bouldering.