British Study Says Skateboarding...NOT A DANGEROUS SPORT!

skategeezer · 08-01-2008, 08:47 AM

Skateboards: Are they really perilous? A retrospective study from a district hospital.

Ulfin Rethnam

, Rajam SHEEJA Yesupalan

and Amit Sinha

BMC Research Notes 2008, 1:59

Published: 31 July 2008 Abstract (provisional)

Background

Skateboarding has been a popular sport among teenagers even with its attendant associated risks. The literature is packed with articles regarding the perils of skateboards. Is the skateboard as dangerous as has been portrayed? Findings
Methods

This was a retrospective study conducted over a 5 year period. All skateboard related injuries seen in the Orthopaedic unit were identified and data collated on patient demographics, mechanism & location of injury, annual incidence, type of injury, treatment needed including hospitalisation.
Results

We encountered 50 patients with skateboard related injuries. Most patients were males and under the age of 15. The annual incidence has remained low at about 10. The upper limb was predominantly involved with most injuries being fractures. Most injuries occurred during summer. The commonest treatment modality was plaster immobilisation. The distal radius was the commonest bone to be fractured. There were no head & neck injuries, open fractures or injuries requiring surgical intervention.
Conclusion

Despite its negative image among the medical fraternity, the skateboard does not appear to be a dangerous sport with a low incidence and injuries encountered being not severe. Skateboarding should be restricted to supervised skateboard parks and skateboarders should wear protective gear. These measures would reduce the number of skateboarders injured in motor vehicle collisions, reduce the personal injuries among skateboarders, and reduce the number of pedestrians injured in collisions with skateboarders.

8sacred8 · 08-01-2008, 08:54 AM

like i always say, "Skateboards don't kill people; people kill people."
alright, it's actually the first time i've said it....

but, "commonest?"... seriously?

enemy combatant · 08-01-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8sacred8

but, "commonest?"... seriously?

I dunno, people have been saying that about the National Health since right from the start!

Bombs Away · 08-01-2008, 11:44 AM

Just becuase there weren't that many injuries, doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. Kind of misleading title... I think ripping down a hill at speeds anywhere over 30 mph is dangerous. We might be able to control our boards but there is still a high risk of injury at that speed. Wearing protection and knowing what you are doing really helps alot but i don't think you can write it off as being "not dangerous."

NJ Joe · 08-01-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bombs Away

Just becuase there weren't that many injuries, doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. Kind of misleading title... I think ripping down a hill at speeds anywhere over 30 mph is dangerous. We might be able to control our boards but there is still a high risk of injury at that speed. Wearing protection and knowing what you are doing really helps alot but i don't think you can write it off as being "not dangerous."

I'm sure they were talking about the kind of skateboarding wherein you roll around at 5-15 mph on shortboards, doing kickflips and boardslides. Speedboarding is dangerous.

A.J. · 08-01-2008, 02:37 PM

Skitching is more dangerous than Speedboarding.

Wells · 08-01-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J.

Skitching is more dangerous than Speedboarding.

Believe. People rarely die from speedboarding and frequently die from skitching.

Parallel Man · 08-01-2008, 08:49 PM

Skateboards rarely if ever injure or kill anyone.

It's the concrete and asphalt that are deadly.

Petary791 · 08-01-2008, 09:54 PM

In the same way, the gun didn't kill him, it was the fall!

sniffleless · 08-01-2008, 10:30 PM

They obviously didn't watch the Mega-ramp big air contest on the X-Games.

dcphotos · 08-02-2008, 05:41 AM

Who cares what anyone else thinks. It's as dangerous as you want it to be. Name a sport that has no danger that is still fun. Skating in general is dangerous, street is just as dangerous as downhill. The kids now ollie off 12-step stairs at speed, that's nuts.

elementalzoo · 08-02-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcphotos

Who cares what anyone else thinks. It's as dangerous as you want it to be. Name a sport that has no danger that is still fun. Skating in general is dangerous, street is just as dangerous as downhill. The kids now ollie off 12-step stairs at speed, that's nuts.

Careful DC. That sort of reasonable thinking will get you in big trouble around here