So what are the most common injuries?
- Lacerations and Contusions: The most common surfing injuries are cuts and bruises to the head, lower leg and foot. These make up around 40% of all surfing injuries. ...
- Sprains and Tears: The next most frequent are soft tissue sprains and tears, however these make up 75% of serious injuries sustained by the surfer. ...
- Overuse Injuries: ...
- Fractures: ...
- Eye Injuries: ...
- Ear Injuries: ...
What are the most common types of surf injuries?
Fractures can also occur if the body comes into contact with hard surfaces with too much force. The most severe surf injuries are caused by the surfboard (67 percent). The fins, the nose, the tail, and the rail can hit you in your head, eyes, lips, or ears, and that means pain and blood.
When are you most likely to get injured when surfing?
Research suggests you are most likely to get injured at 27 years old via a laceration or impact during August. However, the reality is you are the key factor that will determine where, when and how likely you are to be injured. Here is Fit For Sport’s guide to the five most common surfing injuries…
What are the most common health problems Surfer’s have?
Surfer’s ears and swimmer’s ears are other common health problems. These common injuries are mainly caused by a surfer’s own board or that of a fellow surfer. Wiping out accounts for 36% of injuries, while striking the seabed accounts for 18%.
Why are lacerations more common in surfing than other sports?
This is due to the size and power of the waves. In surfing, lacerations are more common than in most sports due to the exposure and hitting boards, reefs, and rocks etc. What is the best course of action to take when suffering a serious surf injury?
What is most likely to injure you while surfing?
Surfers most often sustain injuries to the leg, the head and face, the back, and the shoulder and arm. The main cause of injury is contact with a surfer's own board or someone else's board. 'Wiping out' and striking the seabed are also common causes of injury.
Is it easy to get injured surfing?
Surfing has become a very popular sport, covering all levels and age groups, and is mostly regarded as a safe sport, compared to many others, with a low overall risk of injury. Most injuries are not serious and can be treated easily, so let's have a look at the most common surfing injuries.
How many surfers get injured a year?
45% of injuries are caused by contact with a surfboard or another surfer, according to surfing injuries statistics. There are about 0.26 injuries per surfer every year.
Is surfing a high risk sport?
The extreme side of surfing today is trying to catch the biggest wave possible. Sometimes surfers will use jetskis to pull them far out into the ocean to areas where there are giant and fast waves to catch. This sport is very dangerous as the waves can be powerful and close together.
Do surfers get injured often?
Health problems such as swimmer's ear and surfer's ear are also common. Surfing is regarded as a safe sport. Compared to some other sports the overall risk of injury is low (2.2 injuries per 1,000 surfing days or 0.26 injuries per surfer per year) and the large majority of injuries are not serious.
Do surfers get hit by their boards?
Another risk is trauma to the head, neck, and shoulders. These injuries can be caused by hitting yourself on the head with your own board, collisions with other surfers, submerged rocks or the ocean floor. Beginner surfers should use soft, foam boards and consider wearing a helmet.
How many big wave surfers have died?
In the last ten years only four big wave surfers have died; Sion Milosky at Mavericks in 2011, Kirk Passmore, at Alligators, Hawaii in 2013, Alec Cook in Hawaii in 2015 and Zander Venezia in Barbados last year.
Is surfing hard on the knees?
When surfing, your knee can get into some awkward or unnatural positions that put too much strain on your knee joints. Relying on just your knees to produce the force you need to make those turns can cause pain in your knee joint.
What percentage of surfers are female?
According to a stat report by SurferToday, the International Surfing Association (ISA) estimates that women account for only 19 percent of the 25 million people in the surfing community, worldwide.
Is surfing an attractive sport?
It allows you to spend hours outdoors while enjoying the beautiful water and stunning landscape. That makes surfing an attractive sport, but its health benefits are the cherry on top. If you are not in great shape, it may be a way of getting closer to looking lean and fit.
Why is surfing so fun?
Surfers release a lot of adrenaline and endorphins while they are riding the waves. These hormones cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. A surge of adrenaline makes you feel very alive. Endorphins resemble opiates in their chemical structure and have analgesic properties.
Is surfing an adrenaline sport?
As danger and fear are activated in the human brain, adrenaline bursts invade almost all body tissues and change the way muscles behave. When surfers put their lives in danger - especially in big wave surfing conditions or on dangerous wave peaks - their bodies ignite the so-called fight-or-flight response.
Is surfing hard on the knees?
When surfing, your knee can get into some awkward or unnatural positions that put too much strain on your knee joints. Relying on just your knees to produce the force you need to make those turns can cause pain in your knee joint.
Are knee injuries common in surfing?
Conclusions: The most common orthopedic injuries in professional surfers involve the knee, ankle, shoulder, hip, and back.
What type of danger one can face during surfing?
The Risks of SurfingMarine Life. Sharks just have to come top of the list. ... Drowning. There is a very real risk of drowning while surfing. ... Waves. Waves may look nice from the beach but can be incredibly powerful. ... Locals. ... Riptides. ... Surfboards. ... Leash Tangles. ... The Sea Bed.More items...
How do you make surfing safer?
Nine simple checks for safe surfingAlways surf between the black and white chequered flags. Follow the advice of our lifeguards.Surf with a mate. Especially in a big swell. ... Tell someone you're going surfing. ... Check weather and tides. ... Know your limits. ... Be aware of rip currents. ... Always wear a leash. ... Wear the right wetsuit.More items...
Why do surfers have back injuries?
This is due to the extended or arched position when paddling on the board. This causes overuse and stiffness in many of the muscles around the spine. Also, the repetitive rotation in one direction causes more muscle stiffness and muscle imbalance.
What is the most commonly injured structure?
The MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) and the medial meniscus are the most commonly injured structures. Knee injuries commonly occur from compression from the wave, or having a leg slip off the board and one leg remain on the board.
What is the most common injury to the inside of the knee?
If you are a regularfoot surfer, you twist primarily to the left and to the right if you are goofyfoot. Knee injuries are also very common, particularly to the inside of the knee or the ‘medial’ aspect. The MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) and the medial meniscus are the most commonly injured structures.
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Why is it important to see a professional for injuries?
It’s important to see a professional to properly take care of injuries because they can affect the rest of the body. By fully getting your body back to 100%, you will improve your performance as well as prevent other injuries.
Why do people get concussions in Hawaii?
Whereas in Hawaii, it is like working with a football team. You see concussions, fractures, whiplash, stingers, etc. This is due to the size and power of the waves. In surfing, lacerations are more common than in most sports due to the exposure and hitting boards, reefs, and rocks etc.
Is it serious to look up things on the internet?
Well, ‘serious’ is relative, but if it is serious it is important to see a professional to help guide you. Looking things up on the internet and trying to figure it out by yourself can actually prolong your injury or aggravate it.
What is the nature of surfing?
Waves are the nature of surfing and run the gamut from small lappers to big walls of water.
What happens when you touch hard surfaces?
Fractures can also occur if the body comes into contact with hard surfaces with too much force.
Can you avoid lacerations in a wetsuit?
Lacerations can be avoided with the protection of a good wetsuit and also by practicing risk-avoidance, especially when near a jetty or in a reef break.
How many surf injuries are caused by your own surfboard?
Of all the potential hazards involved with surfing — the waves, the reef, other surfers, sea animals, riptides — a staggering 55% of surf injuries are caused by your own surfboard.
What causes a cut in the surfboard?
Cuts are common surf injuries and are usually caused by the fin of your own surfboard, other boards or sharp coral reef. A scrape might not seem like a big deal. But if left untreated, a tiny laceration can turn into staph infection or Hepatitis A.
What happens if you use a surfboard tip?
Another risk posed by your own board is eye injury. Surfboard tips are sharp and pointed and can cause severe eye damage. For your own safety and the safety of other surfers, use a soft nose guard on the tip of your board.
Is surfing hard on shoulders?
Surfing requires a lot of paddling, which is hard on the shoulders. Before you go out, make sure you know how to paddle.
What part of the body is most overused when surfing?
Shoulders, neck, and back are the most overused parts of the body when surfing, that need to be well maintained to keep your body healthy and well-functioning. Yes, I know when the surf is pumping right in front of you, there’s not much temptation to take your time and exercise at a beach.
How to stay safe when surfing?
An adequate swimming physique is something that every surfer MUST have. They say if you can swim a mile without being blown out, you should be fine surfing on average on waves. Also, knowing the surfing etiquette is necessary so that you would stay safe around others as well.
What are the ways to minimize your risks when surfing?
What are the ways to minimize your risks when surfing? People wear helmets, UV-protective sunglasses and it’s an unwritten recommendation to use rubber-nose plugs on a sharp shortboard nose, and sand down the fins to reduce the risk of slicing someone’s skin on a crowded spot.
How long does it take for ribs to heal after surfing?
Another accident that can leave surfers away from the surf for up to a month. Your ribs heal in about two to four weeks. Bones break easily if you land in an awkward position or “simply” get hit by the board terribly.
Is it normal to wipe out when surfing?
Wiping out is normal. What many beginner surfers do wrong – is that after wiping out they try to reach the surface as fast as possible, which is your body’s instinct. Actually, the more you struggle being underwater, the more oxygen leaves your body leaving you breathless. Try to stay calm and don’t panic!
Lacerations
Head, Neck, and Shoulder Trauma
- Another risk is trauma to the head, neck, and shoulders. These injuries can be caused by hitting yourself on the head with your own board, collisions with other surfers, submerged rocks or the ocean floor. Beginner surfers should use soft, foam boards and consider wearing a helmet. You might not look like the coolest surfer on the beach, but surfing is hard to get the hang of. There’…
Eye Injury
- Another risk posed by your own board is eye injury. Surfboard tips are sharp and pointed and can cause severe eye damage. For your own safety and the safety of other surfers, use a soft nose guard on the tip of your board. Also, whether you’re a beginner or not, try not to surf too close to anyone else. Your own board is a big enough hazard without adding someone else’s to the mix. I…
Marine Animals
- The first thing you probably thought about was sharks. While shark attacks do happen, they’re not very common. There were 53 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States in 2018, and none of them were fatal. Jellyfish stings and stingray injuries are more common. To treat a jellyfish sting, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to pee on it. Submerge the area in warm salt water and …
The Takeaway: How to Avoid Surf Injuries
- There are a few precautions you can take to reduce the chances of suffering any of these common surf injuries. Prepare yourself for the water. Do your research. Stretch. Spend some time watching to make yourself aware of the environment. Use sunscreen. Wear a hat. The sun is just as dangerous as the water itself. If you’re just starting out, take a lesson. In addition to learning t…