Injury Epidemiology of 626 Athletes in Surfing, Wind Surfing and Kite Surfing

Kiteboarding Injuries: Epidemiology, Common Treatment Strategies, and Time to Return to Kiteboarding Following Injury

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence and types of injuries incurred during kiteboarding (1), along with treatment approaches (2). In addition, the time to return to kiteboarding following injury (3) and factors associated with the rate and type of injury were analyzed (4).

SETTING

Recreational kiteboarding.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred twelve kiteboarders (280 men, 32 women, mean age 42.91 ± 13) were included in the study.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

Age, sex, experience, and the use of protective gear.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Kiteboarding experience, injury location, type, incidence, nonsurgical and surgical treatment modalities, and return-to-kiteboarding data.

RESULTS

The number of injuries calculated per 1000 sessions was a mean of 7.82 (4.83-10.81). Patients with less than 2 years of kiteboarding experience were at a greater risk of injury than more experienced kiters (P < 0.001). The knee (24.1%), ankle and foot (18.9%), ribs (12.7%), and shoulder (10.2%) were the body parts most frequently injured. Overall, 14.4% of kiters underwent surgical intervention, with knee surgery being the most common site of operation (41.9%) and the most frequently performed procedure being anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of reported injury was found to be different from that previously reported in the scientific literature among freeriding kiters, with knees, ribs, and shoulders being most frequently involved. Participants with <2 years of experience had a significantly greater risk of injury; therefore, proper technical and physical training is advisable.

Return to surfing following hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

To date, no previous studies have explored return to surfing after hip arthroplasty. The objective of this study is to analyse return to a risky activity following hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on all primary total hip arthroplasties (THA) and hip resurfacing arthroplasties (HRA) performed by the senior author from 2014 to 2021. Patients identified as surfers were contacted to complete a survey including surfing history and patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

83 hips in 67 patients were contacted. There were 66 THAs and 17 HRAs. 81 hips were performed through a posterior approach and 2 through an anterior approach. At an average of 67 months, there were no dislocations and no patients reported hip pain while surfing. Time to resume surfing was a median of 16 (range 8-144) weeks. Among 13 patients who did not return to surfing, 8 cited new lifestyle restrictions, 4 attributed it to other arthritic joints, and only 1 patient attributed their limitation to the replaced hip. This group had taken significantly more time off from surfing prior to surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Return to surfing following THA and HRA is common and safe in our study population with no complications and specifically no dislocations. Patients with other sites of arthritis and patients who have more extensive time away from surfing prior to surgery are less likely to return to sport. While surfing is clearly not without risk, patients can generally expect a high rate of successful return to surfing after hip arthroplasty.

Sports Injuries While Wingfoiling

Purpose

Wingfoiling is a new popular water sport. Data on the risk of injury or overuse injuries are not yet available. The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence, mechanisms and risk factors for wingfoiling related injuries and the acceptance of safety equipment.

Patients and Methods

Data for this retrospective study were collected through an online standardized questionnaire. It was accessible from January 2022 to June 2022. Information on demographics, injury history, overuse complaints, use of (safety)equipment and fitness routines over the past 12 months were asked.

Results

A total of 415 completed the questionnaire in full and could be included in the study. Fourteen percent (n = 59) were female, 86% (n = 356) were male. The average age was 43.5 years. Fourteen percent (n = 59) participated in competitions. Thirty-one percent (n = 129) of all participants suffered at least one injury in the past 12 months out of a total of 356 injuries. This corresponds to an injury incidence of 5.7/1000h. Typical mechanism of injury was contact with the own sports equipment. The most frequent cause was individual riding errors due to fatigue with 77.5% (n = 276). The most common acute injury types were contusions, strains, cuts and abrasions of the lower extremities. In the case of chronic complaints (n = 173), the shoulder and knee joint were mainly affected. Seventy-three percent (n = 304) of the participants regularly used a protective equipment, such as a helmet or impactvest.

Conclusion

The injury rate of wingfoiling is comparable to windsurfing and kitesurfing. The majority of injuries are minor injuries to the lower extremities. In case of serious injuries, it is mainly the bony thorax that is affected. Most participants already use protective equipment. Overuse complaints mostly affect the large joints.

Recreational windsurfing-related acute injuries: a narrative review. Part 2: injury prevention and a proposal for a set of potential prevention strategies with a holistic approach

Objective

The purpose of this review was to identify existing prevention strategies for recreational windsurfing-related acute injuries and provide clinicians with a practical overview of current evidence supporting proposed potential prevention strategies.

Methods

A literature search was conducted through March 8, 2023, using relevant keywords with Boolean operators, such as "windsurfing" AND "injury prevention" and "windsurfing" AND "exercise interventions," from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Only peer-reviewed English-articles were included.

Results

Existing prevention strategies, right-of-way rules, a new proposed set of eight potential primary to tertiary prevention strategies for windsurfing-related acute injuries, and proposed definitions of injury prevention levels equivalent to Haddon's matrix were identified and tabled.

Conclusions

The proposed potential prevention strategies may facilitate clinicians in preventing recreational windsurfing-related acute injuries. Injury prevention for recreational windsurfing is under-researched. Future studies should focus on large prospective clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of prevention strategies for recreational windsurfing-related injuries.

Recreational windsurfing-related acute injuries: a narrative review. Part 1: injury epidemiology and a proposal for standardized injury definitions

Objective

The purpose of this review was to identify the epidemiology of, and develop standardized injury definitions for, acute injuries among recreational windsurfers.

Methods

A literature search was conducted from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases through February 28, 2023, using relevant keywords with Boolean operators, such as "windsurfing" AND "epidemiology" AND "risk factors." Only peer-reviewed, relevant windsurfing-related injury articles were included.

Results

A wide range of acute injuries, from minor, moderate, severe, to catastrophic, were reported. Injury rates, frequency of anatomical distributions, existing and potential risk factors, the proposed standardization definitions of behaviour types, skill levels, general windsurfing-related injuries, and injury severity classifications and levels for windsurfing epidemiology were identified and tabled.

Conclusions

There is inconsistency in the epidemiological methods and definitions of windsurfing research. The injury rates remain difficult to compare among the identified studies. Future in-depth windsurfing-related injury studies should focus on prospective designs using standardized injury definitions.

The epidemiology, risk factors and impact of exposure on unintentional surfer and bodyboarder deaths

Surfing and bodyboarding (SAB) are popular activities, but not without risk. Limited SAB mortality and exposure risk explorations exist, so this cross-sectional study explores epidemiology and risk factors for SAB deaths (1 July, 2004-30 June,2020) in Australia: including decedent and incident profiles, causes of death, differences between fatalities during SAB and other coastal activities; and the impact of exposure on SAB mortality risk. Fatality data were sourced from the National Coronial Information System, incident and media reports. Tide-state data, population data and participation data were sourced from relevant authorities. Analyses included chi-square testing and simple logistic regression with odds ratios. There were 155 SAB deaths (80.6% surfing; 96.1% male; 36.8% aged 55+years; 0.04/100,000 residents; 0.63/100,000 surfers). Drowning was the most common cause of death (58.1%; n = 90), but higher in bodyboarding, with bodyboarders 4.62 times more likely to drown than surfers (95%CI: 1.66-12.82; p = 0.003). Almost half (44.5%; n = 69; χ22 = 9.802; p = 0.007) were with friends/family, and the largest proportion occurred during a rising tide (41.3%; n = 64; χ23 = 180.627; p<0.001) followed by a low tide (36.8%;n = 57). Australians surf 45.7 times each year, for 1.88 hours each visit equalling 86.1 'exposed' hours. With exposure-time considered, exposure-adjusted surfer mortality rate (0.06/1 million hours) is lower than other in-water activities (0.11/1 million hours). Younger surfers (14-34 years) surfed more yet had the lowest mortality rate (114.5 hours/year; 0.02/1 million hours). Older surfers (55+ years) had a lower SAB mortality rate (0.052) than the all-cause crude mortality rate of their average population counterparts (1.36). Cardiac conditions were identified in 32.9% (n = 69) of SAB deaths. SAB are relatively safe, with lower exposure mortality rates than other activities. Prevention should target older surfers, inland residents, and identification of surfers with risk factors for cardiac events.

Surfing-Related Craniofacial Injuries: A NEISS Database Study

INTRODUCTION

Surfing is a popular pastime in coastal areas around the world with increasing numbers of participants. There is a lack of detailed data in the literature regarding surfing-related head and neck (HN) injuries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database to characterize patient demographics, injury types, injury subsite, and emergency department (ED) disposition status associated with surfing-related HN injuries between 2009 and 2020 in the United States.

RESULTS

A total of 54,978 estimated national cases were reported from 2009 to 2020. Injuries to the head (36.0%) and neck (35.8%) were most common. Young adults (ages 18-35) made up most ED visits, whereas older adults (>35) made up most (63.5%) admissions. Laceration (46.1%) was the most common injury among ED visits, whereas fracture (30.5%) and internal injury (29.2%) were most common in admitted patients. Concussions represented 7.5% of injuries overall, 9.1% of pediatric injuries, and 9.9% of young adult injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

When treating a patient who presents with injury suffered during surfing, a thorough examination of the HN should be performed. Specific attention should be given to evaluation of lacerations, fractures, internal ear injuries, and concussions. Pediatric and young adult patients are at increased risk of concussion. The majority of surfing injuries can be treated in an outpatient context.