Fast-roping is a modified rappelling technique used by civilian and military special operations forces that frequently produces injuries.

Highly classified until recently, fast-roping is poorly understood from a medical perspective.

This paper presents a brief description of fast-roping and a retrospective survey of the types of fast-roping injuries sustained in a US Army Ranger battalion.

Injuries are similar to parachute landing fall injuries, but show a greater propensity for ankle injuries (30% of all injuries).

The mechanisms of injury include landing injuries after a controlled descent and falls from a great height when an individual loses control of the rope.

Source: Kragh, J.F. & Taylor, D.C. (1995) Fast-roping Injuries among Army Rangers: A Retrospective Survey of an Elite Airborne Battalion. Military Medicine. 160(6), pp.277-279.