Acute Injuries Sustained By Racing Drivers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Occupational Health
• Automotive Safety

Background:

• Acute injuries are a significant concern in professional motorsports.
• Understanding injury patterns is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of acute injuries in a cohort of 137 racing drivers.
• To identify risk factors associated with a higher incidence of these injuries.

Main Methods:

• An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to 137 racing drivers.
• Data collected included driver demographics, racing experience, and injury types.
• Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• Common injuries included knee (12%), shoulder (11%), thorax/rib (9%), and ankle (9%).
• Other frequent injuries involved the hand (8%), forearm (7%), neck (5%), and wrist (5%).
• Long-distance racing, extensive testing (>10 days/month), short-distance racing, and full-time occupation were linked to increased injury incidence.

Conclusions:

• Race car driving is associated with a high incidence of acute injuries.
• Specific racing formats and occupational factors contribute to injury risk.
• Further safety improvements are necessary to mitigate these risks in motorsports.