Epidemiology of Hip Injuries in Professional Rodeo: A 4-Year Analysis

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Professional rodeo presents significant injury risks requiring further research for intervention.
• No prior epidemiological studies have focused on hip conditions in professional rodeo athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the epidemiology of hip injuries within professional rodeo.

Main Methods:

• A case series analysis (Level of evidence, 4) of deidentified hip injury data.
• Data from 2011-2014 from the Justin Sportsmedicine Team electronic medical records were examined.
• Analysis included risk, frequency, type, location, mechanism, and activity phase of hip injuries.

Main Results:

• 84 hip injuries were reported among 82 athletes, with an injury density of 0.41 per 1000 competitor-exposures.
• Rough stock athletes accounted for 83.3% of hip injuries; bull riders comprised 50.0%.
• Common injuries included contusions (45.2%), impingement (15.5%), and strains (13.1%), with dismounts (36.1%) and ground contact (36.9%) being primary injury causes.

Conclusions:

• Rough stock athletes, particularly bull riders, are at the highest risk for hip injuries in professional rodeo.
• Injuries most frequently occur during the dismount phase, often from ground impact.
• Contusions, impingement, and strains are prevalent hip injuries; preventative measures like padding and specific training are advised.