In-line skating: injuries and prevention

Background. Most reports on in-line skating injuries describe severe injuri es admitted to injury clinics. Little is known about the overall rate of in jury and the contribution of the different disciplines. Methods. In a retrospective inquiry data on injuries were obtained of 105 i n-line skaters of whose 69% were active in fitness skating, 59% in jumping/ grinding and 51% in the halfpipe. Beside the nature, location and degree of the injury, information was given on where the injury happened and whether protectors were worn at the time of injury. Results. Of 197 injuries 145 healed without medical treatment, 28 needed me dical advice once, 22 several times and 2 needed hospitalisation. Injury lo cation were 38% in the upper, 31% in the lower extremities, 21% in the hip/ pelvis region and 10% on the head. The most frequent injuries pertained to concussions and skin lesions, 35% each, followed by ligament injuries with 10% and fractures with 5%. Simple injuries mere 83% in fitness skating, 70% in jumping/grinding and 60% in the halfpipe. Several visits were necessary for 4% of fitness skaters, 10% of jumpers/grinders and 23% in halfpipe inj ured persons. All four protectors were worn at the time of injury by 5% in fitness skating, 18% in jumping/grinding and 55% in the halfpipe. No protec tors were worn in 26% of the fitness injuries, in 9% jumping/grinding and i n 6% in the halfpipe. Conclusions. The results reveal an apparent discipline specific degree of d anger and that fitness in-line skating is less dangerous than the resulting benefits for preventive medicine.