Skateboarding Injuries

What Causes Skateboarding Injuries?

Like all sports, skateboarding comes with a risk of injury. In 2002, skateboarding accounted for over 50,000 U.S. emergency room visits. Depending on the particular style, skateboarders can travel at speeds of up to 40 mph, rise several feet in the air during aerial tricks, or defy gravity over rails. As such, most skateboarders are at the greatest risk of injury from falls. Failing to wear protective gear, performing skateboard maneuvers above one’s skill level, skating on uneven or elevated surfaces, and skating with skateboards that aren't in good working condition are just a few of the elements that can increase the risk of skateboarding-related injuries.

What Are Some Common Skateboarding Injuries?

Fractures

One of the most common injuries in skateboarding is a fractured bone, with some studies estimating that fractures account for over 50% of all skateboarding injuries. Skateboarding-related fractures most often occur after falling off the skateboard, or wiping out. Since skateboarders often stick an arm or leg out in an attempt to catch themselves during the fall, the wrist, long arm, long leg, and ankle bones are common fracture sites. However, more life threatening fractures can occur after a fall impacting the spine or head.

A fracture is when the bone looses its normal continuity. There are several different ways a bone can fracture, such as:

* Open/compound fracture - the impact of the trauma causes either an open wound over the fractured bone or bone fragments to protrude through the skin.

* Closed/simple fracture - the impact of the trauma causes the bone to fracture, but the skin over the fractured bone remains intact.

* Comminuted fracture - the impact of the trauma causes the fractured bone to break into two or more segments.

* Spiral fracture - the fractured bone was abnormally twisted during the trauma.

* Incomplete fracture - the affected bone is cracked, but the crack doesn’t transverse the entire width of the bone. In other words, the fractured bone fragments remain at least partially joined.

* Impacted fracture - the fractured bone fragments are forced into each other during the impact.

Contusions

A contusion is the medical terminology used to describe various bruises. These occur following a blunt force trauma, such as a skateboarding fall or collision with another skater or hard surface. Depending on how great the force behind the trauma is, the local subcutaneous tissue, muscle tissue, or underlying bone may be damaged. The blood vessels under the site of impact are also damaged and begin to seep blood into the surrounding interstitial tissues. These pools of blood are what cause the black and blue discoloration to appear on the surface of the skin.

Subcutaneous contusions are generally not as serious as muscle and bone contusions. The area may initially be red or turn black and blue. After a few days, the discolored area may change to a yellow-green color. The area may also be mildly painful, tender, and swollen for a few days.

Muscle contusions are more serious. These commonly occur after a trauma to the buttock, thigh, or calf area. The impact smashes the muscle into the much harder underlying bone, which can cause bleeding and cellular damage within the affected muscle. Muscle contusions produce the same fading black and blue discoloration as a subcutaneous contusion. In addition, the muscle itself may feel stiff, spasm, and be painful to move. There may also be a palpable hematoma just over the affected muscle.

Bone contusions are generally serious injuries and are frequently accompanied by a bone fracture. This type of contusion tends to occur after a traumatic impact to an area with a bony protrusion, such as the hip, foot, spine, or ankle. These areas have little skin or muscle covering to protect the bone from the impact of a skateboarding fall or collision. Symptoms of a bone contusion include moderate to severe tenderness, pain, stiffness, and swelling. It may be impossible to move or bear weight on the affected bone.

Of course, these are just a couple of the many injuries that can strike a skateboarder during competition, practice, or recreation. Other skateboarding-related injuries include: strains, sprains, torn knee cartilage, Achilles tendon injuries, concussions, abrasions, and joint dislocations.