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Surfing injuries
Andrew Nathanson1, Philip Haynes, Daniel Galanis
1Department of Emergency Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Andrew_Nathanson@brown.edu
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|May 7, 2002
Summary
Surfing injuries commonly involve lacerations and head/neck or lower extremity trauma, often from board contact. Experienced surfers in large waves face higher risks, suggesting equipment modifications could improve safety.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Public Health
Background:
- Surfing is a popular water sport with inherent risks.
- Understanding injury patterns is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the frequency, types, and causes of surfing-related injuries.
- To identify risk factors associated with severe surfing injuries.
Main Methods:
- A website-based interactive survey collected descriptive data on surfing injuries.
- Data from 1,348 individuals reporting 1,237 acute and 477 chronic injuries were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Lacerations (42%) were the most common acute injury, followed by contusions (13%) and sprains/strains (12%).
- Lower extremity (37%) and head/neck (37%) were the most affected body areas.
- Board contact (own or other's) caused 67% of acute injuries; sea floor contact caused 17%.
Conclusions:
- Acute surfing injuries frequently involve lacerations and trauma to the head/neck and lower extremities, primarily due to board contact.
- Older age, higher expertise, and surfing large waves are associated with increased injury risk.
- Modifying surfing equipment may reduce the incidence and severity of injuries.
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