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Extreme Sports Provide Thrills But Also Increased Incidence of Head and Neck Injuries


NEW ORLEANS—Participation in extreme sports offers excitement not found in traditional team sports and also comes with significant risk, according to researchers reporting at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Since their conception during the mid-1970s, international participation in extreme sports has steadily grown. While many traditional sports have declined in participation, skateboarding has surged 49% to 14 million US participants and snowboarding now claims 7.2 million participants, up 51% from 1999. The recent death of extreme snowmobiler Caleb Moore at the 2013 Winter X games has demonstrated the serious risks associated with these sports.

In a presentation titled “Incidence of Head and Neck Injuries in Extreme Sports,” Vinay K. Sharma, MD, summarized the findings of a first-of-its-kind study. Dr. Sharma and colleagues reviewed 2000–2011 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data for seven popular sports featured in the Winter and Summer X Games: surfing, mountain biking, motocross, skateboarding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snow skiing. Data from the NEISS database was collected for each individual sport per year and type of head and neck injury. Cumulative data for overall incidence and injuries over entire 11-year period was then calculated. National estimates were based off NEISS weighted calculations using US census data.

Of the over 4 million injuries reported for extreme sports participants between 2000–2011, 11.3% were head and neck injuries. Of all head and neck injuries reported in extreme sports, 83% were head injuries and 17% neck injuries. The 4 sports with the highest total incidence of reported head and neck injuries were skateboarding (129,600), snowboarding (97,527), skiing (83,313), and motocross (78,236). Severe head and neck injuries (cervical or skull fracture) had a reported total incidence of 2.5% of extreme sports head and neck injuries. Although the incidence of extreme sports HNI increased from year 2000 (34,065) to 2010 (40,042), this trend is not consistent from year to year.

According to Dr. Sharma and colleagues, a greater awareness of the dangers associated with extreme sports offers an opportunity for sports medicine and orthopedic physicians to advocate for safer equipment, improved on-site medical care, and further research regarding extreme sports injuries.

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NEW ORLEANS—Participation in extreme sports offers excitement not found in traditional team sports and also comes with significant risk, according to researchers reporting at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Since their conception during the mid-1970s, international participation in extreme sports has steadily grown. While many traditional sports have declined in participation, skateboarding has surged 49% to 14 million US participants and snowboarding now claims 7.2 million participants, up 51% from 1999. The recent death of extreme snowmobiler Caleb Moore at the 2013 Winter X games has demonstrated the serious risks associated with these sports.

In a presentation titled “Incidence of Head and Neck Injuries in Extreme Sports,” Vinay K. Sharma, MD, summarized the findings of a first-of-its-kind study. Dr. Sharma and colleagues reviewed 2000–2011 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data for seven popular sports featured in the Winter and Summer X Games: surfing, mountain biking, motocross, skateboarding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snow skiing. Data from the NEISS database was collected for each individual sport per year and type of head and neck injury. Cumulative data for overall incidence and injuries over entire 11-year period was then calculated. National estimates were based off NEISS weighted calculations using US census data.

Of the over 4 million injuries reported for extreme sports participants between 2000–2011, 11.3% were head and neck injuries. Of all head and neck injuries reported in extreme sports, 83% were head injuries and 17% neck injuries. The 4 sports with the highest total incidence of reported head and neck injuries were skateboarding (129,600), snowboarding (97,527), skiing (83,313), and motocross (78,236). Severe head and neck injuries (cervical or skull fracture) had a reported total incidence of 2.5% of extreme sports head and neck injuries. Although the incidence of extreme sports HNI increased from year 2000 (34,065) to 2010 (40,042), this trend is not consistent from year to year.

According to Dr. Sharma and colleagues, a greater awareness of the dangers associated with extreme sports offers an opportunity for sports medicine and orthopedic physicians to advocate for safer equipment, improved on-site medical care, and further research regarding extreme sports injuries.

NEW ORLEANS—Participation in extreme sports offers excitement not found in traditional team sports and also comes with significant risk, according to researchers reporting at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Since their conception during the mid-1970s, international participation in extreme sports has steadily grown. While many traditional sports have declined in participation, skateboarding has surged 49% to 14 million US participants and snowboarding now claims 7.2 million participants, up 51% from 1999. The recent death of extreme snowmobiler Caleb Moore at the 2013 Winter X games has demonstrated the serious risks associated with these sports.

In a presentation titled “Incidence of Head and Neck Injuries in Extreme Sports,” Vinay K. Sharma, MD, summarized the findings of a first-of-its-kind study. Dr. Sharma and colleagues reviewed 2000–2011 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data for seven popular sports featured in the Winter and Summer X Games: surfing, mountain biking, motocross, skateboarding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snow skiing. Data from the NEISS database was collected for each individual sport per year and type of head and neck injury. Cumulative data for overall incidence and injuries over entire 11-year period was then calculated. National estimates were based off NEISS weighted calculations using US census data.

Of the over 4 million injuries reported for extreme sports participants between 2000–2011, 11.3% were head and neck injuries. Of all head and neck injuries reported in extreme sports, 83% were head injuries and 17% neck injuries. The 4 sports with the highest total incidence of reported head and neck injuries were skateboarding (129,600), snowboarding (97,527), skiing (83,313), and motocross (78,236). Severe head and neck injuries (cervical or skull fracture) had a reported total incidence of 2.5% of extreme sports head and neck injuries. Although the incidence of extreme sports HNI increased from year 2000 (34,065) to 2010 (40,042), this trend is not consistent from year to year.

According to Dr. Sharma and colleagues, a greater awareness of the dangers associated with extreme sports offers an opportunity for sports medicine and orthopedic physicians to advocate for safer equipment, improved on-site medical care, and further research regarding extreme sports injuries.

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Extreme Sports Provide Thrills But Also Increased Incidence of Head and Neck Injuries

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Extreme Sports Provide Thrills But Also Increased Incidence of Head and Neck Injuries

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ajo, american journal of orthopedics, online exclusive, new, aaos, american academy of orthopaedic surgeons, extreme sports, head and neck injuries, head injury, neck injury
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ajo, american journal of orthopedics, online exclusive, new, aaos, american academy of orthopaedic surgeons, extreme sports, head and neck injuries, head injury, neck injury
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