Abstract
Skateboarding has become a popular sport with millions of skateboarders worldwide. Advances in design and manufacturing materials since the introduction of skateboarding in the 1960s have made skateboards more maneuverable, and speeds up to 40 mph can be obtained. Different styles of skateboarding have evolved over time and can be broadly divided into two different categories: skateboarding to perform tricks and skateboarding as a means of transportation. In parallel with the rise in popularity and the advances in materials, skateboarding injuries have increased, and the injury pattern can be expected to further increase with the development of riskier skateboard tricks. The understanding of skateboard-related injuries includes a basic knowledge skateboarding styles and tricks as well as an understanding of the age-related patterns of anatomic distribution and severity of injuries. Most commonly, skateboarders who fall suffer from scrapes, cuts, bruises, and sprains. However, many patients suffer significant injuries, including head injuries and long-bone fractures. The incidence and severity of head and extremity injuries are age dependent, increasing significantly in older age groups. Mandatory protective gear such as helmets and extremity protective devices should be considered.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Olson BM. A WAC’s war: reminiscences. Minnesota Historical Society; (Collection of letters and photographs), Minnesota, 1965.
Skateboarding. Available at: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding.
A Brief History of Skateboarding (p. 1). Available at: http://skateboard.about.com/cs/boardscience/a/brief_history.htm.
Doeden M. Skateparks: grab your skateboard. Mankato: Capestone Press; 2002.
Skateboard. Available at: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboard.
Exploratorium skateboard science: Equipment. Available at: http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding/skatedesignwheel02.html.
Hunter J. The epidemiology of injury in skateboarding. Med Sport Sci. 2012;58:142–57.
Skateboarding Styles. Available at: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding_styles.
Real world physics problems: the physics of skateboarding. http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-skateboarding.html.
Reiman PR, Augustine SJ, Chao D. The action sports athlete. Sports Med. Update 2007;July:2–8.
2010 Youth Participation in Selected Sports with Comparison to 2010. Available at: http://www.nsga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3494.
Forsman L, Eriksson A. Skateboarding injuries of today. Br J Sports Med. 2001;35(5):325–8.
Lustenberger T, Talving P, Barmparas G, Schnüriger B, Lam L, Inaba K, Demetriades D. Skateboard-related injuries: not to be taken lightly. A National Trauma Databank Analysis. J Trauma. 2010;69(4):924–7.
Zalavras C, Nikolopoulou G, Essin D, Manjra N, Zionts LE. Pediatric fractures during skateboarding, roller skating, and scooter riding. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33(4):568–73.
Tominaga GT, Schaffer KB, Dandan IS, Kraus JF. Epidemiological and clinical features of an older high-risk population of skateboarders. Injury. 2013;44(5):645–9.
Schuman SH. Skateboard injuries in a campus community. Clin Pediatr. 1967;6(4):252–4.
NEISS home. Available at: http://cpsc.gov/library/neiss.html.
Everett WW. Skatepark injuries and the influence of skatepark design: a one year consecutive case series. J Emerg Med. 2002;23(3):269–74.
Fountain JL, Meyers MC. Skateboarding injuries. Sports Med. 1996;22(6):360–6.
Kyle SB, Nance ML, Rutherford Jr GW, Winston FK. Skateboard-associated injuries: participation-based estimates and injury characteristics. J Trauma. 2002;53(4):686–90.
Sheehan E, Mulhall KJ, Kearns S, O’Connor P, McManus F, Stephens M, McCormack D. Impact of dedicated skate parks on the severity and incidence of skateboard- and rollerblade-related pediatric fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2003;23(4):440–2.
Konkin DE, Garraway N, Hameed SM, Brown DR, Granger R, Wheeler S, Simons RK. Population-based analysis of severe injuries from nonmotorized wheeled vehicles. Am J Surg. 2006;191(5):615–8.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention. Skateboard and scooter injuries. Pediatrics. 2002;109(3):542–3.
Cass DT, Ross F. Skateboard injuries. Med J Aust. 1990;153(3):140, 143–4.
Banas MP, Dalldorf PG, Marquardt JD. Skateboard and in-line skate fractures: a report of one summer’s experience. J Orthop Trauma. 1992;6(3):301–5.
Retsky J, Jaffe D, Christoffel K. Skateboarding injuries in children. A second wave. Am J Dis Child. 1991;145(2):188–92.
Kruse P. Splenic rupture – a skateboard accident. Ugeskr Laeger. 1990;152(10):681.
Carragher AM, Sulaiman SK, Panesar KJ. Scroto-abdominal impalement injury in a skateboard rider. J Emerg Med. 1990;8(4):419–21.
Thompson DC, Rivara FP, Thompson R. Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001855.
Schieber RA, Branche-Dorsey CM, Ryan GW, Rutherford Jr GW, Stevens JA, O’Neil J. Risk factors for injuries from in-line skating and the effectiveness of safety gear. N Engl J Med. 1996;335(22):1630–5.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Accident and Poison Prevention. Skateboard injuries. Pediatrics. 1989;83(6):1070–1.
Chapman S, Webber C, O’Meara M. Scooter injuries in children. J Paediatr Child Health. 2001;37(6):567–70.
Vaca F, Fox JC, Mai D, Anderson CL, Kwon KT, Wiechmann WF. Skatepark-related injuries in a southern California skatepark and their associated short-term disability and healthcare utilization. Clin J Sport Med. 2005;15(3):142–7.
Morgan WJ, Galloway DJ, Patel AR. Prevention of skateboard injuries. Scott Med J. 1980;25(1):39–40.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lustenberger, T., Demetriades, D. (2017). Skateboarding Injuries. In: Feletti, F. (eds) Extreme Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28265-7_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28265-7_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28263-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28265-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)