Retrospective analysis of chronic injuries in recreational and competitive surfers: Injury location, type and mechanism

Abstract

Only two studies have reported on chronic musculoskeletal surfing injuries. They found over half of the injuries were non-musculoskeletal, but did not consider mechanisms of injury. This study identified the location, type, and mechanisms of chronic injury in Australian recreational and competitive surfers using a crosssectional retrospective observational design. A total of 1,348 participants (91.3% males, 43.1% competitive surfers) reported 1,068 chronic injuries, 883 of which were classified as major. Lower back (23.2%), shoulder (22.4%), and knee (12.1%) regions had the most chronic injuries. Competitive surfers had significantly (p < .05) more lower back, ankle/foot, and head/face injuries than recreational surfers. Injuries were mostly musculoskeletal with only 7.8% being of non-musculoskeletal origin. Prolonged paddling was the highest frequency (21.1%) for mechanism of injury followed by turning maneuvers (14.8%). The study results contribute to the limited research on chronic surfing injuries.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2014

Publisher

Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.

School

School of Exercise and Health Sciences / Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research

RAS ID

18618

Comments

Furness, J., Hing, W., Abbott, A., Walsh, J., Sheppard, J. M., & Climstein, M. (2014). Retrospective analysis of chronic injuries in recreational and competitive surfers: Injury location, type and mechanism. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 8(3), 277-287. Available here.

Copyright

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1123/ijare.2013-0032