Research in from the American Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that surfing is less dangerous than football (hereafter, soccer). The Times' Body and Soul supplement has had a look at the research, and tells me this morning that researchers at Rhode Island Hospital conclude that competitive surfers have an injury rate of 6.6 significant incidents per 1,000 hours. This contrasts with 2001 research from the same journal indicating that the injury rate for soccer players was 35.3 per 1,000 hours. Apparently, knees are the most commonly injured items in both sports. Just as I was reading this, a news alert at www.surfersvillage.com came through, reporting that actor Robert Hays - Ted Striker in Airplane - narrowly evaded severe spinal damage after a surfing accident on Kauai on Christmas Eve. The Hays incident would suggest that surfing is, indeed, an "extreme" sport, but just how dangerous is it? Well, in the interests of making a lasting contribution to medical knowledge, here is a list of injuries I've acquired over the past 20 years. I'll set the scene by saying I'm 40 and have loved soccer and surfing for the entirety of that time. I'll also admit to having been a competitve soccer player, albeit in lowly amateur leagues, while never having progressed beyond surfing for the pure love of it. The list goes alphabetically in order of sports that I've pursued.
1. Boxing - broken nose x2; 2 broken knuckles on left hand; broken ribs; sundry bruises and black eyes, concussion.
2. Cycling - broken wrist; severed tendon in left thumb.
3. Mountaineering - no injuries.
4. Rugby - broken ribs, ankle twists and sprains.
5. Running - x1 snapped right ankle ligaments.
6. Skateboarding - dislocation of right shoulder x5 times.
7. Snowboarding - compression of top four vertebrae following fall; nerve problems.
8. Soccer - x2 snapped right ankle ligaments; x2 snapped left ankle ligaments; neuroma in right kneee (torn nerve); broken jaw; calcified left calf muscle; torsion of left testicle (all OK on that front, thanks); groin and hamstring tears/strains each season; concussion.
9. Squash - regular groin strains.
10. Surfing - concussion when board whacked me in the head in heavy Gwithian over the falls carnage. Otherwise, nothing.
11. Swimming - no injuries.
12. Trekking - no injuries, though once lost in Tasmanian rainforest.
13. Wakeboarding - hamstring tear.
14. Windsurfing - x1 dislocated shoulder.
Based upon personal experience, soccer is by far the most dangerous sport, followed by boxing and skateboarding. Moutaineering and swimming are the safest. I have yet to bodyboard my local break, but the 6-8ft vertical drops into its heaving pits look like they could do some damage, so I'd better get down there. Be safe - don't do sports that leave you looking like this...
Photo of me (c) Ian Smith, taken immediately after nose straightened after last fight. These days I find that surfing bestows a happier glow.
Yowza...have you ever thought that maybe you're just accident prone? Like, I'm reading this and WOW, lol. You lead a very adventurous life, I'll give ya that! :D
-Cindy
Posted by: supplements for weight loss | November 30, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Love the insight. Thanks for a wonderful job.
Posted by: Acai Optimum | April 06, 2010 at 02:52 PM
love this. thanks for the perspective. just had my first blackout/concussion in 20 yrs surfing. scary but not bad odds.
Posted by: brenton | November 13, 2011 at 08:38 PM