Self reported injury patterns among competitive curlers in the United States: a preliminary investigation into the epidemiology of curling injuries

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the injury patterns among competitive curlers. Methods: Participants at two curling championship events were asked to complete injury history questionnaires. Results: 76 curlers (39%) participated; 79% of these reported curling related musculoskeletal pain, most commonly involving the knee (54%), back (33%), and shoulder (20%). Sweeping and delivering the stone were most likely to provoke symptoms. Time loss injuries were estimated to occur at a rate of 2 per 1000 athlete exposures.Conclusions: Curling appears to be a relatively safe winter sport. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and to further define the risk factors for curling related injuries.

Injury Type and Incidence Among Elite Level Curlers During World Championship Competition

“…Following release of the stone, the curler continues sliding forward to monitor the stone's path while maintaining extreme hip and knee flexion on the athlete's nondominant, nondelivery side (Reeser & Berg, 2004).…”

Les traumatismes crâniens font partie des blessures associées au curling récréatif qui peuvent être évitées en portant des chaussures appropriées

“…Le curling est devenu un sport olympique officiel lors des Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 1998. Bien que la Fédération mondiale de curling compte 49 pays membres, les Canadiens représentent environ 80 % de la population de joueurs de curling dans le monde, avec une population de joueurs variant entre 730 000 et 870 000 adeptes 1,2,4 . Malgré cela, il y a très peu de données publiées concernant la fréquence des blessures.…”

“…Une étude axée sur les deux championnats nationaux a révélé que le taux autodéclaré de blessures graves entraînant une « perte de temps », ce qui caractérise l'exposition de l'athlète, était de 2 à 2,3 par 1 000 parties jouées 4 . Lors d'un autre championnat masculin, le taux autodéclaré de blessures graves a été de 3,5 par 1 000 athlètes exposés 6 .…”

Injuries in recreational curling include head injuries and may be prevented by using proper footwear

“…Although the World Curling Federation comprises 49 member countries, Canadians make up about 80% of the worldwide curling population, with between 730 000 and 870 000 curlers. 1,2,4 Yet there is little published information on occurrence of injuries.…”

“…One study that focused on two national championships found that acute injuries resulting in ''time loss,'' or athlete-exposures (AEs), occurred at a self-reported rate of 2 to 2.3 per 1000 games. 4 At another men's championship, acute injuries occurred at a self-reported rate of 3.5 per 1000 AEs. 6 At the 2010 Winter Olympics, the acute injury rate requiring medical attention was 2.5 per 1000 AEs; the two acute injuries happened to men while the women's bracket reported no injuries.…”