Clinical Management of the Rock Climbing Athlete: Upper Body Injuries

Online Continued Education for the Healthcare Provider

Launching June 15th

This online, self-paced continuing education course is designed to provide licensed rehabilitation professionals with a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to the evaluation and management of upper body and neck/back injuries in rock climbers.

The course emphasizes the unique biomechanical demands of climbing and their relationship to common injury patterns. Participants will learn to systematically assess climbing-related injuries using a structured clinical framework, including subjective examination, objective testing, clinical assessment, and treatment planning.

Content includes common and clinically relevant pathologies such as wrist pain and instability, medial and lateral elbow tendinopathies, ulnar collateral ligament injuries, distal biceps and triceps tendinopathies, shoulder instability and labral pathology, rotator cuff-related pain, and acromioclavicular joint dysfunction.

The course also covers cervical and thoracic spine conditions, including neck pain, facet irritation, disc pathology, radiculopathy, and thoracic mobility restrictions, as well as less common but clinically relevant conditions encountered in climbing populations.

  • Course Format / Delivery Method

    Online, self-paced (asynchronous)

    Instructional Methods:

    • Pre-recorded video lectures

    • Case-based instructional modules

    • Structured clinical framework application

    • Module-based quizzes (5 questions each)

    • Comprehensive final examination

    Course Date and Location

    Start Date: June 15, 2026
    Location: Online (Teachable platform)
    Format: Self-paced; participants may complete the course at their own pace

    Course concludes with a comprehensive final examination.

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

    1. Identify and differentiate common upper body injuries in rock climbers (shoulder, elbow, wrist, cervical and thoracic spine) based on anatomy, mechanism, and clinical presentation.

    2. Analyze climbing-specific load demands, movement patterns, and positions (e.g., lock-offs, gastons, underclings, compression, mantles) to determine injury mechanisms and regional loading patterns.

    3. Perform a structured, climbing-specific subjective examination for upper extremity and spine-related conditions.

    4. Conduct a comprehensive objective examination of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and cervical/thoracic spine, including movement quality, strength, and load tolerance.

    5. Integrate findings to formulate accurate clinical assessments and differential diagnoses across upper body regions.

    6. Develop and implement evidence-informed treatment plans targeting tissue capacity, movement efficiency, and kinetic chain function.

    7. Design safe, progressive return-to-climbing programs that incorporate load management, movement strategy, and sport-specific demands.

    8. Apply a standardized clinical framework across a range of climbing-related upper body injuries, including overuse and load-related conditions.

    9. Demonstrate clinical reasoning and decision-making through case-based scenarios and course assessments.

  • Kevin Cowell, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT

    Kevin Cowell is a physical therapist specializing in the evaluation, treatment, and performance optimization of climbing athletes. He is the founder of The Climb Clinic, a specialty physical therapy practice with locations in Boulder and Golden, Colorado, dedicated to serving climbers and mountain athletes.

    Kevin works with climbers across the full spectrum of ability—from beginners to elite and Olympic-level competitors—and serves as one of the Team Physical Therapists for USA Para Climbing and the Arc’teryx Climbing Team. 

    He holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).

  • Target Audience

    This course is primarily intended for licensed rehabilitation professionals, including physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and other clinicians involved in the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

    It is also appropriate for strength and conditioning coaches and other professionals working with rock climbers who have a foundational understanding of human anatomy, biomechanics, and injury management.

    Level of Instruction

    Beginner to Advanced

    Prerequisites

    Participants should have foundational knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy, evaluation, and rehabilitation.

  • Course Schedule / Time Allocation

    Total Course Time: 12.0 Hours (720 minutes)

    Module Structure (Modules 2–14)

    • Injury Overview

    • Subjective Examination

    • Objective Examination

    • Assessment

    • Plan (Rehabilitation and Return to Climbing)

    • Quiz (5 questions)

    Module Breakdown

    • Module 1: Introduction to Upper Body & Spine Injuries in Climbing – 35 minutes

    Upper Body & Spine Overview

    Cervical / Thoracic Spine

    • Module 2: Cervical Spine Pain in Climbers (Postural, Mobility, Nerve-Related) – 50 minutes

    • Module 3: Thoracic Spine Dysfunction (Mobility, Extension Deficits, Rib Contributions) – 50 minutes

    Shoulder

    • Module 4: Rotator Cuff–Related Shoulder Pain (Load Tolerance & Overuse) – 50 minutes

    • Module 5: Shoulder Instability & Labral Pathology (Dynamic Moves, Lock-Offs) – 50 minutes

    • Module 6: Subacromial Pain & Overhead Loading (Volume, Technique, Fatigue) – 50 minutes

    • Module 7: Scapular Dysfunction & Kinetic Chain Deficits – 50 minutes

    Elbow

    • Module 8: Medial Elbow Pain (Climbers’ Elbow / Flexor-Pronator Overload) – 50 minutes

    • Module 9: Lateral Elbow Pain (Extensor Tendinopathy / Load Mismatch) – 50 minutes

    Wrist / Hand (Non-Finger)

    • Module 10: Wrist Pain in Climbers (Extension Loading, Compression, TFCC Considerations) – 50 minutes

    • Module 11: Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain & Stability (TFCC / Load Transfer) – 50 minutes

    Integration

    • Module 12: Upper Body Load Management (Volume, Intensity, Recovery) – 50 minutes

    • Module 13: Movement Strategy (Lock-Offs, Gastons, Underclings, Compression) – 50 minutes

    • Module 14: Kinetic Chain Integration (Spine → Shoulder → Elbow → Wrist) – 50 minutes

    • Module 15: Other Upper Body & Spine Injuries – 35 minutes

    Assessment Methods

    • 15 module-based quizzes (5 questions each)

    • Case-based clinical reasoning questions

    • 30-question comprehensive final examination

    Participants must successfully complete all quizzes and the final examination to receive course credit.

    Additional Learning Activities

    • Case-based reflection and clinical integration: 70 minutes

    Total Time Summary

    • Modules: 620 minutes

    • Final Exam: 30 minutes

    • Additional Learning: 70 minutes

    Total: 720 minutes (12.0 hours)

  • This course series is approved for 12 continuing education contact hours in California (CPTA #___________) and in all states that offer reciprocity with California, including:

    Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington DC, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

    If you have questions regarding your specific state requirements, please contact your state’s licensing authority.

    We are also happy to provide documentation for registrants seeking individual approval from their licensing board. Requests can be submitted to info@theclimbclinic.com