Epidemiology of Injuries in Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

Abstract

Background:Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a recreational activity and sport that has grown exponentially, with participation increasing from 1.1 million in 2010 to 2.8 million in 2014 in the United States alone. Despite this growth in participation, SUP remains underresearched with regard to injury epidemiology.Purpose:To investigate injury epidemiology (severity, location, type, mechanism) in SUP.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:An open-source online survey was administered to active SUP participants internationally. The survey captured information relevant to demographics, participation, and injury history over the past 12 months.Results:Of 240 participants included in the data analysis, 67.1% were males, and 54.6% were involved in competition. Participants spent a mean 192.6 ± 179.5 hours participating in SUP per year, most commonly for fun and fitness (43.3%) at the beach or bay (63.0%). A total of 95 participants had sustained at least 1 injury. A total of 161 injuries were recorded, resulting in an injury rate of 3.63 (95% CI, 3.04-4.16) per 1000 hours of SUP. The shoulder/upper arm was the most frequently injured body location, accounting for 32.9% of all injuries, followed by the lower back (14.3%) and the elbow/forearm (11.8%). The most common injury types were to muscle/tendon (50.4%), joint/ligament (22.6%), and skin (14.2%). Endurance paddling was the most frequently reported mechanism of injury (34.5%), followed by contact with a paddler’s own board (20.1%) and sprint paddling (9.3%). Key risk factors for sustaining an injury were age >46 years, competitive status, and participating for >4.8 hours/week, as well as using SUP for racing.Conclusion:This is the first study to report injury epidemiology for SUP. It is evident that both sexes participate in SUP for fun, fitness, and competition. With regard to injuries, the shoulder, lower back, and elbow are the most injury prone; older age, competitive status, and longer hours of participation all influenced the chance of injury. Findings from this study provide the foundation for injury prevention strategies.

A biomechanical analysis of the stand-up paddle board stroke: a comparative study

“…The reduced hip motion, combined with greater shoulder movement, illustrates a tendency for the inexperienced group to rely heavily on the shoulder and possibly the biceps and forearm musculature to generate force during the entry and drive phases of the stroke. It is unclear at this stage whether this may predispose the shoulder and elbow to injury, both of which were shown to be a common site of injury in SUP paddlers (Furness et al, 2017). In contrast, the experienced participants had less overall shoulder ROM and greater hip ROM.…”

“…Biomechanical analysis in sport allows for modifications to technique in order to maximize power output and minimize injury (Ho, Smith & O’Meara, 2009; Bini & Carpes, 2014). Epidemiological studies of injuries in SUP have revealed that the shoulder/upper arm (32.9%) lower back (14.3%) and elbow/forearm (11.8%) were the most common locations of injuries reported in a study of both competitive and recreational SUP riders (Furness et al, 2017). The importance of technique is highlighted by the fact that less than optimal stroke biomechanics has been associated with both shoulder, elbow and back injuries in the similar sports of kayaking, and outrigger paddling (Hagemann, Rijke & Mars, 2004).…”

Exploring the Utilisation of Stand up Paddle Boarding in Australia

“…Without this level of instruction, a paddler may be more prone to injury. Injuries associated with SUP participation are thought to include the elbow, shoulder and back, and could be due to improper technique and inadequate training [ 4 , 24 ]. Given that the primary reason people use a SUP is for fun and fitness, SUP may be an ideal activity to promote to address the problem with inactivity amongst Australians.…”

Electromyography Analysis of Muscle Activation During Stand-Up Paddle Boarding: A Comparison of Paddling in Kneeling and Standing Positions

“…demonstrated that dynamic balance ability can be significantly improved after 30 minutes of SUP training on water [10]. Furness et al [7] also demonstrated that elite stand-up paddlers had more favorable static balance than recreational paddlers did, indicating that an SUP workout can achieve core strengthening after long-or short-term training to improve balance ability. In the kneeling position, because trunk and lower limb movements are limited, the main source of paddling power is the upper arm force.…”

“…Although SUP is also generally regarded as an effective full-body workout, few studies are in progress, and little scientific evidence can confirm these benefits. Studies related to SUP have included only research on topics such as sports injury epidemiology [6][7][8], body composition analysis, and respiratory metabolism [9][10][11][12]. Other studies have analyzed the effectiveness of exercise training intervention [13,14].…”