Surfing injuries

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the relative frequency, pattern, and mechanism of surfing injuries. Descriptive data of surfing injuries was collected by using a Web site-based interactive multiple choice survey. Data was collected from May 1998 to August 1999. Completed surveys were obtained from 1,348 individuals reporting 1,237 acute injuries and 477 chronic injuries. Lacerations accounted for 42% of all acute injuries, contusions 13%, sprains/strains 12%, and fractures 8%. Thirty-seven percent of acute injuries were to the lower extremity, and 37% to the head and neck. Fifty-five percent of injuries resulted from contact with ones own board, 12% from another surfer's board, and 17% from the sea floor. Sixty-seven percent of acute surfing injuries are caused by board contact. Older surfers, more expert surfers, and those surfing large waves have a higher relative risk for significant injury. Equipment modifications are suggested that may decrease the risk for injury.

Lesões em surfistas profissionais

“…Fractures occurred in 5.4% of the total injuries, which is similar to the 6.0% result found by Nathanson (7) and higher than the one found in research by Steinman (15) , 2.5%. On the other hand, Lowdon et al (17) have reported 9.0% of occurrence in their sample and Taylor et al (3) , similarly, reported 8.9%.…”

“…Concerning the kind of injury, the ones found in the present study are those which most frequently appear in other studies described in the literature (5)(6)(7) . However, other injuries are also described in the literature, such as ocular injuries (8)(9)(10) ; auditory injuries (11)(12) ; injuries produced by contact with marine animals or organisms (13)(14) , among others of less incidence.…”

“…In the present study, no complaints about dislocations as well as in other considered studies have been reported (7,16) . Only in the study by Steinman (15) , dislocations have been reported in 3.0% of the subjects.…”

“…In the research by Nathanson (7) , 12% was the proportion for muscular strains in the observed sample.…”

“…The study conducted by Steinman et al (15) in the south of Brazil found 44.0% of injuries represented by this kind. In a study conducted in Hawaii (7) , a proportion of 40.0% was verified for cut-contusion wound among all injuries.…”