Managing head injury risks in competitive skateboarding: what do we know?

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Public Health

Background:

• Head injuries are a major concern in competitive skateboarding, with limited research on elite athletes.
• Current helmet usage rates in competitive skateboarding are low, below 35%.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess head injury risks in competitive skateboarding.
• To evaluate available skateboard helmet standards and their impact performance.
• To inform policy and practice for managing head injury risks.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review on skateboarding head injuries.
• Video analysis of falls and crashes in professional skateboarding competitions.
• Examination of international skateboard helmet standards.
• Impact testing of commonly used skateboarding helmets.

Main Results:

• Head injuries account for up to 75% of all injuries in skateboarding.
• Competitive skateboarders exhibit high fall rates, but also demonstrate control over impacts.
• Most tested helmets showed similar impact attenuation, though performance degraded after a second impact.

Conclusions:

• Off-the-shelf skateboarding helmets can protect against skull fractures and intracranial injuries.
• Urgent research and development are needed to better understand and mitigate head injury risks in competitive skateboarding.