Climbing as a hobby

[Adam_W]

Does anyone else climb as a hobby? It's brutally hard on the fingers, but it has definitely strengthened my forearms (less fatigue for those hours in the sim lab 🙂 ) and increased my dexterity. Also, I understand NSU's new University Center will have a climbing wall. hmmm....

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[bionerd]

Does anyone else climb as a hobby? It's brutally hard on the fingers, but it has definitely strengthened my forearms (less fatigue for those hours in the sim lab 🙂 ) and increased my dexterity. Also, I understand NSU's new University Center will have a climbing wall. hmmm....

i don't think the adcoms will believe that climbing increased your manual dexterity dude...they'll just believe your hands are big and strong!

 

[Adam_W]

i don't think the adcoms will believe that climbing increased your manual dexterity dude...they'll just believe your hands are big and strong!

I'm not really referring to the AADSAS manual dexterity section (I've already been accepted to my top two schools). I was just thinking that, as a hobby, climbing might well compliment dental school and the dental profession.

 

[golfmontpoker]

I'm not really referring to the AADSAS manual dexterity section (I've already been accepted to my top two schools). I was just thinking that, as a hobby, climbing might well compliment dental school and the dental profession.

I have done some mild rock climbing... maybe like once a month during the summer and fall, i put it down on my extracuriculars section. But ya i totaly think it can compliment dentistry... Theres alot of dexterity required for climbing

 

[TX2thDR]

climbing.. like this? this guy is crazy. 👍

http://www.break.com/index/fastclimb.html

 

[Adam_W]

climbing.. like this? this guy is crazy. 👍

http://www.break.com/index/fastclimb.html

Thanks for the link. That's awesome 👍

 

[golfmontpoker]

Thanks for the link. That's awesome 👍

WOW!!!! that is INSANE!!! I could never imagine myself climbing like that... I always have safety gear, helmet, rope, you name it... This guy scaled that with NOTHING... WOW, Im gonna say "Hell with Dental School, i wanna climb like that!" 😛 J/K!

 

[polarnut]

this isn't really climbing, but hilarious nonetheless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT5KHERazY4&search=dennis rodman

 

[xxxTheDonxxx]

Does anyone else climb as a hobby? It's brutally hard on the fingers, but it has definitely strengthened my forearms (less fatigue for those hours in the sim lab 🙂 ) and increased my dexterity. Also, I understand NSU's new University Center will have a climbing wall. hmmm....

climbing destroys your manual dexterity...haha . I don't think they care much for that, but you can put it under extra curiculum activity.

 

[Calvin Brodus]

I just started climbing a few months ago. I absolutely love it. Although I am still learning, my forearms are getting stronger and noticeably bigger. I am getting technically better, more confident, tenacious and meeting lots of interesting people in the process.

The only thing that may cause me to stop is the fact that some research has shown that 25% of serious climbers have caused injury to their hands (like carpal tunnel) due to overuse and strain. If you climb, you can attest that your forarms, elbows, and fingers will ache for a day or two after a good workout.

From what I have heard, hand and arm muscles will develop much more rapidly compared to the ligaments. Excess stress on these areas could cause a "bowstring" effect on your carpal pulley tendons. (not sure if this is completely accurate, but makes sense)

I am not so sure I would want to risk my future dental career on a sport that I am not all that serious about. Climbing is a ton of fun, but I don't want to have to face any more obstacles that might keep me from becoming a successful dentist.

If you decide to continue climbing, do some research. I think if you are smart about it you can improve your odds of remaining healthy by taking it easy, focusing on endurance rather than higher route ratings, and staying within your ability level. But this is obviously hard to do when I got my boys, Dr Dre and Warren G, on the ground hollering an hyping me up. Takes more discipline than I have, so I'm afraid I'm gonna have to hang it up.

 

[Adam_W]

I just started climbing a few months ago. I absolutely love it. Although I am still learning, my forearms are getting stronger and noticeably bigger. I am getting technically better, more confident, tenacious and meeting lots of interesting people in the process.

The only thing that may cause me to stop is the fact that some research has shown that 25% of serious climbers have caused injury to their hands (like carpal tunnel) due to overuse and strain. If you climb, you can attest that your forarms, elbows, and fingers will ache for a day or two after a good workout.

From what I have heard, hand and arm muscles will develop much more rapidly compared to the ligaments. Excess stress on these areas could cause a "bowstring" effect on your carpal pulley tendons. (not sure if this is completely accurate, but makes sense)

I am not so sure I would want to risk my future dental career on a sport that I am not all that serious about. Climbing is a ton of fun, but I don't want to have to face any more obstacles that might keep me from becoming a successful dentist.

If you decide to continue climbing, do some research. I think if you are smart about it you can improve your odds of remaining healthy by taking it easy, focusing on endurance rather than higher route ratings, and staying within your ability level. But this is obviously hard to do when I got my boys, Dr Dre and Warren G, on the ground hollering an hyping me up. Takes more discipline than I have, so I'm afraid I'm gonna have to hang it up.

Very true. I always make sure to avoid "crimps" and other such techniques that could potentially damage the smaller ligaments in the fingers. This is important to me as both a guitarist and a future dentist. As far as wrist injuries, I totally agree. Since my acceptance, I have been taking it very easy with my kung fu and stick fighting. I guess the key is to just listen to your body.

 

[chucklesleung]

Unless you decide to climb aid or only crack climbs, climbing is going to kill your fingers, especially if you boulder. No matter what, when you get to a certain level you're going to have to start crimping and using your body in ways that have a high likelyhood of hurting either your fingers, pullies, tendons, or shoulders. All of which you want to be in perfect condition for dentistry. Auctually 75% of serioius rock climbers sustain some type of injury to their fingers at some point in time. Climb smart and then insure your fingers and keep on climbing and being a dentist.
Does anyone going to NYU this next year want to hook up and go out to the gunks or somewhere else? I've never been and the pictures that I've seen are beautiful.

 

[Adam_W]

Unless you decide to climb aid or only crack climbs, climbing is going to kill your fingers.

Thanks for the insight. I guess I'm so new to the sport that I haven't really been exposed to the harder, more intense techniques. So far, I've only climbed a few 5.8s, which have some really easy holds. It sounds like it might be a good idea to just stick with the easier routes and climb for the endurance/exercise.

 

[Adam_W]

Since my acceptance, I have been taking it very easy with my kung fu and stick fighting. I guess the key is to just listen to your body.

Sorry to quote myself, but I just realized that one of my kung-fu classmates is a periodontist. He also rock climbs and water skis (many people don't understand how bad water-skiing stresses the fingers and wrists). Needless to say, his hands are insured.

 

[TX2thDR]

i've been trying to take it easy on my hands as well. i like working on cars and fabricating things. using power tools lessens the use of your hands but it still takes a toll on them (the vibration from a sawzall, electric sander, die grinder, etc.). i think i might even be going deaf too! lol

i can imaging climbing to be even worse though. here is another video that might interest you.. its called le Parkour or tricking. more "street" climbing than anything. i can see it being useful to a martial artist.

http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/6656/Le_Parkour_Amazing_movements.html

btw, that speed climber... i heard he is no longer living.

 

[makwendo]

yup, danny os... died a few yrs ago freefalling in Yos. Valley....I believe it was off the spire. Essentially they were trying to break the record for the longest freefall hooked up to a dynamic rope....the rope suvived...danny hit the deck...ouch

Climbing and dentistry are, unfortunately, incompatible. Bouldering and outdoor trad/sport will definately increase the likelyhood of a debilitating hand injury... 2 strained finger tendons, I almost complete finger tendon tear (It still hurts a bit), tennis elbow (yup from climbing), crushed fingers from big rocks and almost loosing my skull in a multipitch rockfall (yay for brainbuckets) was enough for me to give up climbing if I wanted to pursue dentistry....I've switched to less dangerous activities...like skiing and indoor climbing sans the crimpers now 😛

Its kinda like any profession, loose function in a vital body part and flush your career down the drain...

Insurance will cover it but imagine the earning potential let alone the hard work/ years put into getting a DDS/DMD