Common Patterns of Pain in Climbers

Esther Smith is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and the owner of Grassroots Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City. She is a 5.13- climber who's reaped the benefits of her own physical therapy practices, having healed a shoulder injury through exercises, stretches, and alternative therapies.

She works almost exclusively with rock climbers, which is rare for a physical therapist. I wish I lived in Salt Lake City so I could go see her myself! For a complete bio and list of certifications and qualifications, please visit www.grassrootsphysicaltherapy.com.

In this first of 3 interviews with Esther, we focused on shoulder injuries and how to heal them.

Esther recently acted as the physical therapist for the women's Black Diamond Bootcamp, where she helped Babsi Zangerl heal a shoulder injury WHILE she was training hard.  

• Babsi's shoulder issues and how she healed
• How Esther healed her own shoulder injury
• The most common shoulder injuries
• Proper fingerboard posture to avoid injuries
• What exercises to do to support shoulders
• How much pain is too much?

• Esther Smith's website: www.grassrootsphysicaltherapy.com
• Esther Smith's article on how to Hang Just Right 
• Esther working with Babsi in her BD Bootcamp Video