Photo: iwona kellie, Flickr

When you hear about someone falling off a ladder, you immediately cringe, then wait for a long list of injuries. There's one adventure sport that elicits that same initial cringe -- rock climbing.

Now a new rock climbing study reveals everything you ever wanted to know about climbers limping into an emergency room. Here are a few interesting results:

• From 1990-2007, there were an estimated 40,282 rock climbing injuries, averaging 2,237 annually.
  
• An amazing 77.5 percent of injuries were due to falls, and 11 percent of all injured were hospitalized. Keep in mind, a rock climbing fall doesn't necessarily mean hitting the ground -- a short fall while suspended on a rope can be nasty.
  
• Fractures, sprains and strains were the most common injuries, with the ankle most commonly injured and the foot most commonly fractured. Ouch.
• While the study saw a 63-percent jump in rock climbing-related injuries during the 18-year study period, it's only logical considering there was a 67-percent rise in participation since 1998. So don't pay attention to headlines screaming Rock Climbing Injuries Jump 63 Percent.

Do you have people in your life who just aren't satisfied with a jog around the neighborhood? You can foster your loved ones' adventurous spirits with holiday gifts that are as rugged as they are.

You can find adventure sport gear or accessories that fit any budget. Do keep in mind that certain items -- especially wearables such as helmets -- require a certain fit, so be sure to purchase items that can be easily exchanged if they don't fit correctly. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

Do you spend your summer seeking outdoor adventures? Mountain biking on rugged trails or scaling the face of a rocky mountain? While opportunities for your favorite outdoor adventures may not be so numerous in winter, you can still get your adrenaline rush indoors.

Men's Health shares four amazing indoor adventure sports centers across the country. But you may be able to find something a little closer to home. For example, in my neck of the woods there's an awesome rock climbing wall at the community center, a rowing pool at a local rowing club, and an indoor skating/biking facility just a couple hours away.

And don't forget about all the incredible adventure sports -- such as snowboarding and skiing -- winter has to offer as well. AOL Health has 11 fun winter fitness activities to try.

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The whole dinner and a movie thing is so played out. We've all been there, done that, haven't we? The next time you go out on a date -- whether it's with your spouse, existing boyfriend/girlfriend, or a brand new love interest -- why not plan on something more active?

• Jogging. Be like Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon. Drive to a local park or nature preserve and lace up your running shoes. A jog along a path is a great way to spend quality time together. You can unwind later by unpacking that healthy picnic lunch you have waiting in the car.
• Bowling. So it's not the most strenuous activity there is, but bowling can be a lot of fun. Besides, bowling gives you a chance to check out your date from (ahem) all angles. Hopefully you're not as serious about your game as Mario Lopez is, though.
  
• Yoga. There go Reese and Jake getting all fit again ... not to mention Orlando Bloom and his model girlfriend. A yoga class is a perfect way to spend time together and do something a little different.
  
• Adventure sports. Rock climbing, mountain biking, and other adventure sports are a great date choice for the physically fit. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens recently went kayaking together -- another fun activity.
  
  

The options are limitless. Opt for exercise the next time you have a date -- it's way more rewarding than dinner and a movie.

A house that makes you lose weight. Wouldn't it be awesome if, just by stepping foot in your own home, you'd be on your way to a healthy weight? It's not so simple, I'm afraid.

But AOL Home has a slideshow of some pretty wacky house designs that surely must help their owners live a healthier lifestyle. How about a ten-story home that's only equipped with stairs? Or a house that's built like a jungle gym? Or a house on an island that can only be accessed by rowboat? The sheer act of getting to and/or around these houses is a workout.

If you look around your home, you'll likely see less extreme ways that it can help you get fit. How about making two trips every time you have to go up the stairs? Or playing a game of basketball with that hoop you have outside? You can also engineer additional fitness opportunities -- like putting up a rock wall in your garage just like one of the families in the slideshow did.

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Obviously, there's a big difference between clothing you'd need for indoor versus outdoor rock climbing. Either one is a fantastic workout, but they each have their own advantages, as Bev told us all about earlier. However, I'm much more familiar with climbing indoors, and I know that it's an accessible, easy way for people to get started, so for the purposes of this post, I'll be focusing on indoor climbing.

In case you're afraid to try climbing because you don't think you have enough upper body strength, let me reassure you -- it doesn't matter. You use your legs and core right along with your arms, so it's not like you're constantly hanging by one arm, like in the movies. There are lots of different levels of climbing, and if you're willing to give it a try, I'm sure you can reach the top of a beginner wall, at least. And it's totally safe -- you'll wear a harness and be roped in, so even if you fall, you won't go anywhere.

That being said, here are some tips on what to wear for your new indoor adventure:

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