Skateboarding Injuries in Spain: A Web-Based Survey Approach
Adrián Rodríguez-Rivadulla1, Miguel Ángel Saavedra-García1, Rafael Arriaza-Loureda1
1Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 2, 2020
Summary
Most skateboarders, primarily young males, sustain frequent, severe injuries, especially ankle sprains, often without specific training. This highlights a need for better skateboarding injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Skateboarding Science
Background:
- Skateboarding's inclusion in the Olympics elevates its status, increasing participation and maneuver complexity.
- Rising participation necessitates research into skateboarding habits and injury patterns.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for athlete safety and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sports habits and injury profiles of Spanish skateboarders.
- To identify demographic and experience-related differences in skateboarding practices and injuries.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive epidemiological study utilizing a web-based survey.
- Data collected on sports habits, practice routines, and injury history.
- Comparative analysis across sex, age, and experience subgroups.
Main Results:
- 197 participants (89.3% male, mean age 24.4 years) surveyed.
- 87.8% lacked skateboarding-specific training; 27.4% competed.
- 87.8% reported injuries (323 total), predominantly lower limb ligament sprains (ankle), with 54.2% severe; gaps/stairs were common injury sites.
Conclusions:
- Spanish skateboarders are typically young males practicing recreationally.
- Distinct habits and injury patterns exist across different demographics and experience levels.
- High rates of severe injuries underscore the need for skateboarding injury surveillance and improved prevention/rehabilitation.
