7 Common Skateboarding Injuries; How To Avoid Safely?

7 Common Skateboarding Injuries; How To Avoid Safely?

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.

What Are The Most Common Skateboarding Injuries?

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.

How To Prevent Skateboarding Injuries?

Step 1: Protective Gears

A skateboarder should have the proper gear for the best protection and safety. What are they?

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.

FAQs Regarding Skateboarding Injuries


When Do Skateboarders Get Hurt?

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.”

What Are The Important Factors While Purchasing the Best Longboard Bearings?

01. Size

8 mm bearings are commonly used. This size is perfect for the longboard bearing. You can choose the other sizes if they give you more comfort. But I will recommend you choose the 8mm bearing.

02. Type

You can get both the ball bearing and roller bearing around you. Most of the bearings are ball bearings. Ball bearings run faster and more smoothly than roller bearings. But ball bearings can not handle the load. In that case, the roller bearing performs well.

03. Durability

The bearing should be durable that can last a minimum of one year. You can increase its durability by cleaning regularly and running in dry places. Water and mud decrease their longevity quickly.

04. Performance

The performance of the bearings is the most important fact. If your longboard bearings are rough and run with less spin that will not satisfy you. Also, a smooth and fast bearing with noise will annoy you. So, check before buying if there is any defect in performance.

05. Precision

Precision is the exactness or correctness of the tolerance. The American manufacturers association uses ABEC to define precision. When the precision increases, the permissible range decreases. Precision is independent of bearing clearance. The higher the ABEC number, the tighter the bearing will be. Higher precision helps to move more smoothly and increase efficiency.

06. Lubrication Compatibility

Lubrication is a must before riding on your longboard. To convert your slow bearings into fast longboard bearings you have to clean them regularly and lubricate them. It will give a fast spinning movement.

07. ABEC rating

While buying bearings, you need to check whether it is ABEC-rated longboard bearings or not. ABEC rating stands for dimension. It only rates tolerances. Some ABEC classes are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. ABEC rating 9 is tighter than ABEC rating 1. The more the ABEC rating, the more the precision will be.

08. Engraved seals

Engraved seals prevent entering dust and other material inside. It also holds the lubricant inside and prevents friction. Most of the brands use rubber material for easy cleaning and to prevent the entry of water inside. While buying, check all the seals properly.

09. Price

Price is a big factor when buying anything. If you get a bearing with better quality at less price, then that will attract you the most. People mainly buy this type of bearings the most. Also, you should not follow the misconception that more expensive things mean better. Most of the famous brands are budget-friendly and careful about quality.

10. Brand reputation

While buying high-quality longboard bearings, people follow reputed brands. If the reputation is good then people do not hesitate to buy from the brand.

11. Warranty/Guarantee

If the brand provides you with a warranty or guarantee, that will be a plus point for you. You can repair the bearings if any problem arises at no cost within the given time. Also, the refund policy is beneficial for the buyers. You can change the defective set or can return the set with a full refund.

FAQs About Longboard Bearings

These are some commonly asked questions by people about the best bearings for longboards.

Is it worth it to invest in more expensive longboard bearings?

No, it is not worth it to invest in more expensive longboard bearings. More expensive is not equal to best quality. You can get a high-quality bearing within a suitable budget.

How do I know if my longboard bearings need to be replaced?

If the bearings start producing noise and are rough to run after cleaning, then you need to replace your longboard bearings. Also, the bearing will not spin if it is worn out.

What is the difference between ceramic and steel bearings for longboards?

The difference between ceramic and steel bearings for Longboards is durability. Ceramic bearings are more durable, smooth, and corrosion-resistant. At the same time, steel bearings are easily damaged by corrosive substances and are less durable than ceramic ones.

Can I lubricate my longboard bearings myself, or do I need to take them to a professional?

You can lubricate your longboard bearings yourself. )r if you have no previous experience, then you need to take them to a professional. But choose the right lubricant for the bearings.

Can I mix and match different brands of bearings on my longboard?

You should not mix and match different brands of bearings on your longboard as they are different from each other in size, shape, durability, and performance. Mixing different brands is unable to balance your movement.

Can I use the same bearings for both my longboard and my skateboard?

Yes, you can use the same bearing for both your longboard and your skateboard. The only difference appears in the case of wheel size. Otherwise, there is no difference between the bearings. But you should be careful about the dimension of the spacer.

Conclusion

Now it will be easy for you to choose the best Bearings for Longboards. You can compare the bearings and choose according to your comfort. I will recommend you choose the bearings which are performing well and have good customer service. If you still can not choose a perfect one then you can select it by brand reputation.

Also, choosing the brands which are giving warranty is the safest to pick. You can get these ten best bearings within an affordable range. Do not choose the bearings which are rated below ABEC 3. Below 3 ABEC-rated bearings have less tolerance.

About the author

This is Kyle Spinks from Butte MT, USA. A skateboarding expert and lover since 2019. skateupdates.com is my blog where I share my skateboarding life experience daily or weekly. If you're a beginner skater, I'll advise you to follow my blog daily.

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