Skateboarding injuries in Vienna: location, frequency, and severity

PM R. 2010 Jul;2(7):619-24. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2010.04.022.

Abstract

Objective: To describe injury patterns of skateboard-associated injuries (SAIs) and to assess the frequency and severity of SAIs depending on an athlete's skateboarding experience.

Design: Cross-sectional observation.

Setting: Skating areas.

Participants: A total of 100 Viennese skateboarders.

Interventions: No intervention.

Main outcome measures: The participants filled in a questionnaire that was used to assess selected sociodemographic data; duration and frequency of skateboarding; "stance"; and localization, rate, as well as the severity of SAIs during the past 24 months. Skating behavior and sociodemographic data were compared with frequency and severity of SAIs.

Results: Response rate of questionnaires was 75% (n=75) of the participants. Duration of skateboarding was 8+/-5 years, and training time was 18+/-11 hours/week. A total of 97% (73) of the respondents reported at least one injury: in 52% (39) of the respondents the most serious injury was mild to moderate (laceration, contusion, strain/sprain, and bruise), whereas in 45% (34) it was severe (ligament rupture, fracture). A total of 33% (13) of participants experiencing only mild-to-moderate injuries consulted a physician compared with 94% (32) with at least one serious injury. The most severely affected regions were lower leg/ankle/foot in 32% (24) of all respondents who experienced at least one severe injury and forearm/wrist/hand in 16% (12) who experienced at least one severe injury. Only 13% (10) used protective equipment. Multivariate logistic regression for the occurrence of at least one severe injury with all socioeconomic and sport-relevant data investigated revealed significant positive correlations with weekly training time (P=.037) and years of experience (P=.021). However, after correcting for multiple testing (Bonferroni adjustment for 8 tests), no significances remained.

Conclusion: More experienced skateboarders seem to have a greater risk of incurring severe SAIs, but sociodemographic factors seem to have no influence on injury risk in this population. Only a minority of skateboarders used protective equipment.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Arm Injuries / epidemiology
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg Injuries / epidemiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Musculoskeletal System / injuries
  • Skating / injuries*
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / epidemiology