Effects of Blackburn exercises in shoulder impingement on pain and disability in rock climbers

Abstract

Background: Rock climbing places physical and mental demand which often requires strength, endurance, agility and balance. Tremendous muscular activity is required for Pulling and pushing activity whereas very few movements relies heavily on the pectoral muscles and serrates anterior causing imbalances in shoulder rotation and alteration in scapula-thoracic motions. Aim: to study the effects of Blackburn exercises in shoulder impingement on pain and disability in rock climbers. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of Blackburn exercises in shoulder impingement in rock climbers on pain and disability using SPADI scale. Material and methodology: Total number of 30 professional rock climbers between age group of 18-35 years including genders with at-least 2 years of experience were selected by simple random sampling. SPADI scale was used as outcome measure to assess the pre and post intervention. Intervention included Blackburn exercises of shoulder, scapular muscles which was given thrice a week with each session lasting for 30 minutes. Results: Comparing pre and post intervention data using student paired t test results showed that there was significant improvement in SPADI total score(p<0.0001). Conclusion: There is significant decrease in pain and disability in professional rock climbers.