Little is known about roller derby injuries. To describe the types of injuries that female roller derby athletes experience, quantify the incidence of injuries and examine the relationship between selected demographic variables and injuries. Women's roller derby leagues were contacted explaining the study and requesting participation. A second message was sent with the link to the electronic questionnaire to collect data from March to June 2015. Of the 1 395 respondents, 48.7% (679) reported having at least one injury in the previous 12 months. The skaters' average age was 32 and have played roller derby for four years. The most common injuries were to the ankles (22.5%), knees (21%) and head (11%). Of the head injuries, 75% were diagnosed with a concussion. This is the first study of woman's roller derby injuries. Understanding injuries that skaters incur may help leagues as they develop policies and specific injury prevention programmes.
ObjectivesTo examine skaters’ beliefs about risk factors related to roller derby injuries.DesignQualitative study based on semistructured focus group discussions with female roller derby skaters.MethodsSkaters with varying levels of experience and injury history were invited to participate in focus group discussions. Semistructured focus group discussions were based on the question ‘What factors do you believe contribute to roller derby injuries?’. Analysis of the data were organised into themes, summarised and interpreted, separated based on being an intrinsic or extrinsic factor and then reorganised by frequency of citation. Focus groups continued until no new themes were added to the data.ResultsThe factors discussed by derby skaters were divided into intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The most common intrinsic factors cited were behavioural and psychological, ‘knowing one’s body’ and internal pressure related to ‘not letting team down’. The most cited extrinsic factors were ‘unmatched skill level’ and ‘poor quality’ equipment.ConclusionsFemale roller derby skaters contribute the greatest injury risk to new skaters not knowing their body and experienced skaters not considering new skaters skill levels. Knowing the factors that skaters perceive as increasing injury risk may contribute to interventions to decrease the frequency and severity of injuries. New findings include behavioural, psychological and social factors related to injury risk. Important considerations for healthcare providers treating roller derby skaters include the psychological and social factors that affect injury.
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of skateboarders who owned and who wore a helmet and which constructs from the Health Belief Model predicted helmet ownership and helmet use among undergraduate skateboarders. Methods: From March 2013 through March 2014, 83 skateboarders completed a helmet attitude and use survey. Results: Among participants, 47% owned a helmet while 18% wore a helmet on their most recent ride. Skateboarders who did not own a helmet were compared to skateboarders who owned a helmet but did not wear it and to skateboarders who wore a helmet. Positive trends for emotional benefits, friends and family cues to action and parental rules cues to action were observed. A negative trend for vanity and discomfort barriers was observed. Friends and family cues to action, parental rules cues to action and lower perceived danger were associated with helmet ownership. Friends and family cues to action were associated with helmet use. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with the thrill seeking culture of skateboarding. Implications for interventions to increase helmet use among undergraduate skateboarders are discussed.
Fatalities and head injuries from bicycle-related crashes remain a concern in the United States. Despite legislation in many states, helmet use remains low. This observational study examined the helmet use and related factors in a North Carolina city. The sample consisted of 2088 observations of bicyclists. The objectives were to (1) determine helmet use; (2) describe other safe bicycling practices; and (3) examine the relationship of demographic variables and safe riding practices with helmet use. Helmet use was observed for 25% of the sample. Demographic factors related to helmet use were being female (OR = 1.32), 26 years old or older (OR = 4.94), and White (OR = 2.17). Bicyclists riding on the road with traffic were more likely to wear a helmet than bicyclists riding on the sidewalk (OR = 2.04). Findings indicate that helmet use remains low in the city. Research to monitor, better understand, and promote helmet use is needed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.