Riding on a skateboard is lots of fun, but are you afraid of skateboarding as it is an injury-prone game? If so, then do not worry! Because you aren’t alone. Though skateboarding has always been an exciting and popular activity, hearing about skateboard injuries has become common nowadays.
Mind you, due to skateboarding injuries, every year, around 70,000 people require a visit to the emergency department. Plus, an average of 40 people lose their lives because of skateboard accidents in the U.S. A. every single year. That’s shocking, huh?
Needless to say, every skateboarder will fall eventually, but every fall doesn’t cause an injury if you always consider following the safety rules. That’s why, if you are eagerly looking for the safety precautions you must take to avoid these kinds of injuries, then you are at the right place.
So, without any further ado, let’s get straight into “how to prevent skateboarding injuries”!
7 Tips For Avoiding Skateboarding Injuries
You can easily prevent skateboard injuries if you are careful and ready to apply a few techniques. Carefulness is always the key to safe skateboarding.
So, I have gathered the following safety measures that will help you in preventing skateboard injuries. Here we go:
01. Wear Protective Gears
One of the primary safety measures is to wear protective gear while skateboarding. As a skateboard rider, though you might dislike wearing protective gear, these will help you to prevent injuries. Now, do you know what types of protective gear are best for skateboarding? Well, you will find the perfect answer below if you don’t know.
I. Well-Fitted Helmet
A well-fitted helmet is the most vital protective gear that one must wear all the time while skateboarding because it covers the head and protects the brain.
Head injuries are the worst kind of injury that a person can face in his life. One can quickly recover from broken bones, but head injuries take a lot of time to heal.
Moreover, the case will become worse if the injury causes internal bleeding. In such cases, the question of life and death arises.
So, you should buy a helmet that fits you properly. Otherwise, it will move whenever you shake your head, making you feel uncomfortable.
Also, I would suggest focusing on the shape of the helmet. The best types of helmets for skateboard riders are those which have side straps creating a “V” shape over the ears. Plus, a skateboard helmet should also have a clip to fasten under the chin.
II. Slip-Resistant Shoe
It is a must for skateboarders to wear slip-resistant shoes to prevent toe injuries. A slip-resistant shoe helps to give a firm grip, and wearing it gives better control over the skateboard.
You might wonder what actually makes a slip-resistant skate shoe different from regular shoes. Well, the difference lies in nothing but the sole of the shoes.
The skate shoes have thinner soles that provide comfort with a maximum grip. Also, the thin soles allow the rider to take control of the board.
Now, how will you understand what type of skate shoes will be the best? The techniques are easy. All you have to do is check the sole material of the shoe. Materials such as suede leather provide a firm grip and are better at providing friction.
III. Pads For Knees, Elbows, and Hands
Pads are protective gears that save the joints of your arms, shoulder, elbows, and knees from injury. These gears minimize the falling pressure on the knees and arms, preventing bones from breaking.
Besides safeguarding the bone joints, pads also keep your arms and knees from burning and scraping by sand and rocks. It might seem like a hassle to wear pads on the knees and elbows before going out. But trust me, pads are the life saviors, so wearing them is a must for every skateboarder. Mainly, it is best to wear pads with thick plastic caps because they are great in terms of fitting.
Remember, not wearing pads while skateboarding can lead to deadly consequences. Therefore, it is so vital to wear pads to ensure you are safe even when you lose your flow during a transition.
02. Learning to Fall
Do you know what makes a skateboard different from other rides? It is the unique techniques of skateboarding that make it an incredible ride. Remember that the control over the skateboard depends on its riding methods.
Now, learning to fall is essential for taking control and preventing skateboard injuries.
The first step to avoiding losing balance while falling is to hunker down. When you hunker down, you bend your legs and incline your body closer to the ground. It minimizes the distance between you and the ground. So, when you fall, you won’t get seriously injured.
Secondly, land on the soft and fleshy part of your body. While falling, people naturally extend their arms which leads to breaking bones. Instead, I recommend tucking in your elbows. By doing this, the falling pressure won’t directly hit the bones if you land on the fleshy parts.
Lastly, do not get stiff. Just try to relax your body while falling.
03. Learning To Stop
Learning how to stop a full-speed skateboard by utilizing the “Foot Brake” is crucial. Follow the below method to learn how to stop a skateboard:
First off, turn your front foot in such a way that it’s pointing towards the board’s direction.
Next, put your back foot near the back wheels. This dropping back method prepares the foot to set against the ground.
Then to lower the speed, put light pressure on your foot.
After the speed slows down and grabs a balance, increase the pressure on the back foot.
Thus, the skateboard will slow down quickly and eventually stop with the increasing pressure.
04. Choosing A safe Environment
For safe skateboard rides, the environment matters the most. As per Kyle et al., one can prevent skateboard injuries if one learns and practices skateboarding in a controlled environment.
Here are some of the places that are considered to be safe for performing skateboarding:
I. Areas With Plain Surface
Plain surfaces are best for skateboarding. Irregular surfaces with rocks, stones, and other debris are prone to accidents. Plus, the cracks on the roads are also not safe for riding skateboards.
It is hard to control the skateboard if any rock or stones get stuck on the wheels. So, it is best to look for a plain-surface area for skateboarding.
II. An Isolated Place
It is risky to skate in a crowded place. If you skate in a crowded place, there is a higher possibility of colliding with cars, bikes, and people. So, it is best to find a place where there are lesser vehicles and people.
III. A Suitable Skatepark
A skatepark is a place specially built to practice skateboarding, wheelchairs, inline skating, and BMX scootering. Skateparks have handrails, staircases, pipes, banked ramps, snake runs, etc., for skating and scootering. So, practicing in a skatepark is the appropriate option for beginners.
Now, to choose a suitable skatepark for skateboarding, here are some of the tips that you should follow-
Avoid going to a skatepark that has wet and slick surfaces.
Choose a skatepark with a natural ‘traffic flow.’
Avoid using skateparks with cracked surfaces.
05. Choosing A Right Deck
One of the ways of preventing skateboard injuries is choosing the right deck. Riding a skateboard with the wrong deck will not allow you to have control. Because some decks are perfect for beginners, whereas some are perfect for skilled riders.
Choosing the perfect deck as per your preferences is important as the different skateboards come with different features. Therefore, you should get your ideal type of deck by focusing on what kind of features and benefits you want.
06. Focus On Technique
Focusing on the appropriate techniques will always save you from skateboard injuries. Skateboarding is challenging. Hence, only the proper techniques will make this game easy and safe for you.
07. Focus On Your Age
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that the minimum age for riding a skateboard is not less than 5. And, close supervision by adults is a must for children who are riding between 6-10 years old.
Children are not experienced enough to ride by keeping the traffic and speed limit in mind. Hence, it is important to follow the age limit to prevent skateboard injuries and other risks.
FAQs Regarding Skateboarding Injuries
Let’s get to know some frequently asked questions related to this topic:
What Is The Most Common Injury While Skateboarding?
Hand, wrist, shoulder, knee, and head injuries are the most common while skateboarding. Children are most prone to head injuries. On the other hand, ankle, wrist, and knee injuries are common for elders.
How Do You Avoid Breaking Bones While Skateboarding?
One can easily avoid breaking bones by focusing on how to fall while skateboarding. While falling, instead of extending the arms, always tuck them in. On top of that, crouch down your body to minimize the distance against the ground. This method will lessen the falling pressure and help to avoid breaking your bones.
Should Kids Wear Pads For Skateboarding?
Besides older people, wearing pads is also a must for children during skateboarding. Children are more sensitive than their elders, and their bones are yet to develop. That’s why children should also wear knee and elbow pads while skateboarding to prevent bone injury.
Why Do Skaters Wear Wrist Guards?
A wrist guard protects the wrist bones from breaking when skaters fall from the skateboards. It mainly prevents skaters from trying to stretch their hands while falling.
Final Words
Well, that’s all there’s to it, people. Now that you’ve got a skinny on how to prevent skateboarding injuries. If you follow the aforementioned tips and tricks with care, hopefully, you’ll be able to avoid all significant skateboarding injuries for sure.
To wrap it all up, you can easily prevent skateboard injuries by wearing protective gear like helmets, knee pads, and skate shoes. Also, choosing a safe skating environment with plain and dry surfaces is essential.
Finally, you should not forget about learning the proper techniques for falling and lowering the speed. At the end of the day, appropriate techniques will save you from serious injuries. Also, keep in mind that there is no alternative to carefulness to avoid skateboard injuries.
Thank you so much for dropping in today, you guys are the bee’s knees!