Climbing Stronger: Injury Management, Optimism, and the Power of Training Load Artwork

Lattice Training Podcast

Hosted by Lattice Training - the world's leading climbing coaching and training company - this podcast features discussions and interviews with many of the planet's best climbers and coaches. We delve into the details of what works and what doesn't when it comes to training, performance and recovery. Whether you're just starting out climbing, or a professional athlete, there is an incredible depth of knowledge throughout the episodes! For further support and knowledge please check out Lattice 365, our exclusive membership group.

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Lattice Training Podcast

Climbing Stronger: Injury Management, Optimism, and the Power of Training Load

January 18, 2025 • Lattice Training • Season 10 • Episode 5

In this episode, Ollie Torr is joined by coach and physiotherapist Stian Christophersen to dive deep into the art and science of injury management in climbing. Stian shares his insights on balancing the training load, understanding pain perception, and the psychological tools that aid recovery. From the importance of optimism and goal-setting to the evolving role of technology in rehabilitation, this episode is packed with practical advice for climbers of all levels.

Stian also dives into the fascinating concept of the “comfort crisis” – a phenomenon affecting modern athletes who avoid discomfort and challenges. He explains why stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for resilience, performance, and overall growth.

Key Takeaways:

Pain doesn't always equal injury – learn the difference.
Early loading for injuries: why it works and how to start.
The importance of optimism in injury recovery and beyond.
Balancing intensity and volume in climbing training.
Managing training load to reduce injury risks and maximise performance.

👉 Don’t miss this deep dive into climbing injury management's practical and psychological aspects. Tune in now to learn how to train smarter, recover faster, and climb stronger.

The Lattice jingle is brought to you by Devin Dabney, music producer of the outdoor industry who also hosts the American Climbing Project.

Ollie Torr (00:00)
Welcome back to the Lattice Training Podcast.

Today we're diving into a conversation I had with Stian Christopherson, which I really enjoyed. He's a coach climber and all-round expert in climbing performance and injury resilience. Stian is the author of the Climbing Bibles, as well as hosting his own podcasts, including the Climbing Injury Podcast. So he's got a wealth of knowledge in a lot of areas of climbing performance.

As a coach, I'm fascinated by the behaviors and psychology around climbing injuries and what it takes to get an athlete back to climbing as soon as possible. We talk about what it takes to embrace discomfort, manage pain and maintain optimism in recovery. And that optimism topic is something that I think is really important and isn't talked about frequently enough.

we discussed whether climbing actually unique with regards to injury and what we can learn from other sports.

normal and are injuries normal? So whether you're a climber, coach or someone who's just fascinated by peak performance, I think this episode has some great insights. I really enjoyed taking part in it and I hope you enjoy listening to it. So let's jump in.