Prospective analysis of surfing and bodyboard injuries

Abstract

Objective: To assess the differences in the types of injuries sustained by surfboard and bodyboard riders and to identify common mechanisms of injury. Methods: Subjects were prospectively recruited to the study on presentation to one of the six hospital emergency departments. Consented subjects completed a questionnaire while in the emergency departments. Data regarding radiological investigations undertaken and their findings were collected retrospectively. Results: A total of 224 males and 28 females in the surfing group and 14 males in the bodyboard group were recruited. In surfers, the most common injured body parts were the head/face (115; 45.6%) and lower limb (69; 27.4%). Surfers were most commonly injured by a surfboard, either their own (178; 70.6%) or someone else's (18; 7.1%). Unfortunately, the small number of subjects recruited to the bodyboard group precluded meaningful comparison with the surfing group. Conclusions: The most common body part injured in surfers is the head/face compared with the lower limbs in bodyboard riders. Contact with a surfer's board (most commonly their own) is the most common cause of injury. Significant spinal fractures/injuries are sustained when the surfer (usually their head) strikes the seafloor. Head and facial fractures occur when the surfer is struck by their own board. Future research into surfboard design which incorporates softer compounds into the deck, rail, and fins is recommended. The need for local authorities and surf lifesavers to disseminate information relating to specific beaches to the general public regarding surf conditions, water depth, and the nature of the seafloor is also essential for injury prevention.

Epidemiology of Acute Injuries in Surfing: Type, Location, Mechanism, Severity, and Incidence: A Systematic Review

“…Injury is a risk with participation in all sports (recreationally and competitively), and surfing is no exception [5,6]. Uncontrolled and often unpredictable ocean environments present unique hazards to surfers; sand, coral reef and rock breaks, water depth, wave size and type, water temperature, presence of other surfers, and local marine animals all contribute to injury risk [5,[7][8][9].…”

“…Surfing equipment such as wetsuits, booties and gloves, although designed for thermoregulation and maintaining body heat, have indirectly also helped protect surfers from lacerations and contusions from rock and reef [9]. The invention of surfboard leashes has also helped protect surfers from being hit by others' surfboards during wipeouts however, presents new hazards to board riders from elastic recoil [6]. Advances in technology have made surfboards lighter and more maneuverable with changes to board shape and use of fins, allowing quicker changes in direction and aerial maneuvers to be incorporated into surf style [5][6][7]10].…”

“…The invention of surfboard leashes has also helped protect surfers from being hit by others' surfboards during wipeouts however, presents new hazards to board riders from elastic recoil [6]. Advances in technology have made surfboards lighter and more maneuverable with changes to board shape and use of fins, allowing quicker changes in direction and aerial maneuvers to be incorporated into surf style [5][6][7]10]. To reduce injury occurrence and continue the progression of the sport, a thorough understanding of injury location, types and mechanisms is needed [11].…”

“…Information on injury type, location, severity and mechanism has been documented from the earliest study by Allen et al [12] who examined acute surfing injuries at Waikiki, Hawaii to more recent studies by Burgess et al [13], Dimmick et al [6], Hohn et al [14] and Inada et al [15] examining acute surfing injuries in Australia (New South Wales), Australia (Queensland), globally from WSL data and in Japan respectively. Various studies have provided data from a number of sources; online surveys, emergency departments (ED) and medical records have been used to collect primarily retrospective data [5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Medical services at surfing competitions have also been used to collect prospective data, however, to our knowledge only two studies to date have been conducted so far [6,27].…”

“…Various studies have provided data from a number of sources; online surveys, emergency departments (ED) and medical records have been used to collect primarily retrospective data [5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Medical services at surfing competitions have also been used to collect prospective data, however, to our knowledge only two studies to date have been conducted so far [6,27]. While all of these research methods profile surfing injuries, online surveys are limited to recall bias, and EDs or hospitals only represent injuries serious enough where the participant seeks emergency medical attention [20].…”