OFF-ROAD CYCLING INJURIES - AN OVERVIEW

Off-road bicycles, commonly called 'mountain bikes', have become incre asingly popular worldwide since their introduction in the western US i n the late 1970s. This popularity is partly because these vehicles-can be ridden on a wide variety of terrain which is not accessible to oth er types of bicycle. Although early versions were rather crude, off-ro ad bicycles today typically include high strength, lightweight frames with a wide array of available suspension and braking systems. Virtual ly all aspects of the technology continue to evolve, including compone nts and protective equipment. As the popularity of off-road cycling ha s increased, so too has the interest and level of participation in the competitive aspects of the sport. Currently 2 organisations - the Nat ional Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) and the Union Cycliste Inte rnationale (UCI)-sponsor the major events within the US and around the world. To date, the majority of studies have been descriptive in natu re, with data collected via self-report, questionnaire formats. Only 1 prospective study has been reported thus far, which surveyed a major international competition held in the US in 1994. Injury rates calcula ted on the basis of injuries per ride or event in competitive venues h ave been reported, ranging from 0.2 to 0.39% compared with 0.30% for r ecreational participants. Retrospective data collected from recreation al and competitive riders indicate that from 20 to 88% of those survey ed reported having sustained an injury during the previous year of par ticipation. The majority of injuries appear to be acute, traumatic epi sodes involving the extremities, with contusions and abrasions being t he most common. In general, the incidence of more severe injuries such as dislocations, fractures and concussions is low. Comparisons betwee n road and off-road cycling events indicate that off-road cyclists sus tain more fractures, dislocations and concussions than their road-even t counterparts. Future research should incorporate epidemiological met hods of data collection to determine the relationships between vehicle design, terrain and safety equipment and riding-related accidents. Fu rther, those engaged in such research should attempt to set a standard definition for injury.