Ever since I started skateboarding, I’ve come home with some kind of injury every day. I can still remember the first injury, I had was an ankle injury. It occurred when I was practicing skating at the park, and my feet slipped all of a sudden.
As time passed, I learned different skating tricks. But during the whole journey, I got injuries to my head, hand, wrist, and so on. But these injuries are not likely to happen if you follow proper caution. Moreover, for a beginner, those injuries mostly occur.
So, are you a beginner? You should know about those injuries and the precautions to avoid them. And here, I will talk about 7 common skateboarding injuries that you may have, including the safety measures.
When Do Skateboarders Get Serious Injuries?
Well, there is no such parameter to count the time when skateboarders get serious injuries. But, injury mostly occurs when one skater skates on a cracked surface. A beginner has a high risk of getting injuries when learning different skating techniques.
What Are The Most Common Skateboarding Injuries?
For a skateboarder, the types of injuries are quite endless. However, some of them are common to almost all skaters. Let’s know about them in detail.
01. Head Injuries
Head injuries while skateboarding is among the most common injuries that all skaters have. Even I also had this injury at the beginning. I can clearly remember that, after that incident, I was hospitalized for a few days.
Sometimes it may cause traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, due to such a hit. Skaters are more likely to have this injury as they get older. A report shows a 50% greater risk for traumatic brain injury among skaters ages 10 to 16 than among skaters under 10.
Head injuries are the most deadly injuries that a skater may have. In some cases, it may cause death. However, one can avoid this risk by wearing a good helmet and other necessary gear.
02. Hand Injuries
Hand injury is another common accidental skateboarding injury. Although this is not as deadly as head injury, to treat a broken hand and fracture, one has to be hospitalized. However, I didn’t go to the hospital when my hand injury happened. With first aid treatment, I got well soon.
This kind of injury can be avoided by putting on proper gear like gloves and safety bands. If you are a skating learner, you should have them.
03. Wrist Injuries
Another common skateboarding injury is a fractured or broken wrist. Furthermore, skaters of all levels, from novices to pros, can have this injury. The skateboard’s imbalance is the primary cause of this injury.
Despite the fact that I have never had a fractured wrist while skating, wrist injuries account for nearly one-fifth of all skater injuries. Proper gears and learning a few simple standing and riding tricks can help to prevent such an imbalance.
04. Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are very common if you practice high jumping while skating. Because the high jump always requires the skaters to have a good bonding with and control over the skateboard. If you are a skating learner, then you should start with basic tricks and improve your skating skills.
Moreover, I would suggest putting on safety gear and practicing skating daily. However, such an injury can become deadly in some cases. Even in some cases, you may have a permanent shoulder fracture.
05. Ankle Injuries
Injuries to the ankle are very prevalent. Ankle injuries account for about 11% of all skateboarding injuries. Ankle sprains and even fractured ankles are possible outcomes.
This is a typical injury for beginners. My right ankle was injured when I started skating because my foot slipped. For this injury, I was on complete bed rest for a month.
Moreover, ankle injuries can also occur as a result of landing incorrectly. Some skateboarders enjoy jumping down or from high places, such as stairwells. The skater’s ankle could be severely fractured or injured due to this. And, to avoid this injury, you should skate safely with proper adequacy.
06. Long Bone Fracture
A fracture of the long bone is one of the most severe skateboarding injuries. This one is not the most common like other injuries, but in recent times it is noticeable.
Long bones are found in five different places in the human body. The thigh bone (femur), the shin and lower leg bones (fibula and tibia), the upper arm bone (humerus), and the forearm bones (radius and ulna).
Skateboarding is rife with high-impact trauma that can result in long bone fractures. When you fall from heights such as rails, ledges, and other high surfaces, you run the risk of fracturing these bones.
07. Face Injuries
Face injuries are another common skateboarding injury. It includes cuts and scrapes, as well as broken noses and jaws. Sadly, this damage develops as a result of being slammed too forcefully. Your face can be injured by strong and unexpected forces that send you tumbling to the ground.
Skateboard itself might hurt your face in some cases. It’s possible that the board will fly up and hit your face when you try landing tricks. Ensure you don’t stomp on the ground too hard to avoid this.
What Are The Serious Skateboarding Injuries?
From my perspective, head injuries, long bone fractures, face injuries, and broken bones are serious injuries. That is because such injuries are so deadly or can be permanent.
Even there are so many cases where a skater died due to severe head injury. For example, Joshua Lloyd, 40 years old skateboarder, dies of a head injury from an accident.
How To Prevent Skateboarding Injuries?
Although it is not possible to prevent all skateboarding injuries, following proper caution and guidelines can reduce the loss and save you from severe injuries. And here we let you know about those preventive steps that will save you.
Step 1: Protective Gears
A skateboarder should have the proper gear for the best protection and safety. What are they?
- Perfectly fitted helmet
- Wrist guard
- Elbow and knee pad
- Skating shoe
- Chest armor (for beginners)
Step 2: Practice Skating In A Safe Place
Skating in a traffic zone is the most dangerous place to do so. Practicing your board abilities in an area that is free of traffic is the best way to ensure that you don’t get in an accident.
Before settling on a parking location, look around for anything that could “grab” your wheels, such as rocks, cracks, or trash. You should do your utmost to remove the area of any potentially hazardous items such as pebbles or sticks that may be there.
If you can’t get rid of all the trash on the ground, look for a new location. Skateboarding at night necessitates a well-lit environment.
Step 3: Learn How To Fall
Professional skateboarders are sometimes known as “professionals at falling.” how to learn fall?
Bend your knees down on the skateboard to lessen the height of the land if you lose your balance.
Your arms should be used to absorb the impact of a fall as they try to roll.
Step 4: Learn The Foot Brake Trick
When you are skating on a sidewalk or in a busy place, you should know how to brake instantly. Here foot brake is the best option to slower your boarding speed.
- Step forward with your front foot so that it is parallel to the board.
- Make a forward turn with your chest as well as your face.
Keep your weight focused on your front foot and avoid leaning forward or backward. Keeping the back leg straight, swing it outward at the same moment. Return to a supine position with the rear leg.
The shoe sole can be used to apply modest pressure on the ground. Put extra pressure on the brakes to slow down even faster.
- When You Can Start Skateboarding?
- Skateboarding Rules and Regulations
- Skateboarding Laws And Rules In the USA
FAQs Regarding Skateboarding Injuries
When Do Skateboarders Get Hurt?
Mostly skateboarders get hurt from falling down. In practicing different tricks like high jumping and landing, rolling boards in the air, and others, they get injuries when they lose control and slip.
Needless to say that beginners are more prone to get injured than professionals. Once you properly control the skateboard, the chance of falling down will reduce.
Who Is At Greater Risk To Be Injured?
Beginners are at a greater risk of being injured while skating. But if you ask what the age parameter is, children between 10-16 years who are novices are more prone to injury.
However, from some sports statistics and reports, we know that nearly half of all skateboarding injuries occur in youngsters under 15. Boys are more likely to be wounded than girls.
Where To Go For Skateboarding Injuries?
Well, you should go to the nearest hospital once you are injured. However, it depends on the type of injury. As I said earlier, I was admitted to the hospital for my head injuries. And my hand injury, I got a cut, and with first aid, I recovered soon.
So, if you got a normal cut or scrape that can be treated through first aid, going to the hospital is not mandatory. But if it becomes a major injury or fracture, you should go to the hospital.
For head and brain injury, you may consult a neurologist. For other bone fractures, you should go to an orthopedic hospital.
Conclusion
Now, in this article, I have shared the most common skateboarding injuries, including their safe prevention. However, all these preventive steps are 100% injury-proof.
One thing that I suggest to all beginners is that learn the skating tricks with patience. No one can be professional in one day. Always follow the guidelines accordingly.
For professionals, I have a message, “Help the beginner to learn new skills and how to control the board. Besides, coach them properly if you can.”