February 20 2020

The injury profile of Australian surfers

A 2019 study has been published in relation to surfing, injuries and Chiropractic.

This study looked the health and health and injury profile of adult Australian competitive surfers. Whilst the study relates to competitive surfers, the concepts from this could be used for us amateur surfers when looking at our health and injury status, and how to get the best out of ourselves.

In this study, the researchers looked 227 surfers (male and female), with ages ranging from 22 to 47, who were surfing from 4 to 16 hours per week.

Interestingly general physical and mental health scores were higher than the general population. Could this be because surfers get the benefit of the movement, the enjoyment of being out in nature, the benefits of sunshine, or the cooling effect of the water on the body and muscle? Or could it be that those with a better physical and mental health profile have a tendency to become surfers? Or perhaps a combination of both?

In regards to surfing related injures 81% reported at least one surfing related injury in their lifetime. This is not surprising given the ages of the participants, and the fact that surfing is an inherently physical sport. When surfing there is use of all parts of the body – the back, neck, arms, and legs. When paddling the extensor muscles of the spine, and the arms are quite active, and when jumping up the ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, and flexor muscles of the upper body are very active.

Almost 6/10 participants reported an injury in the current season. This has important implications regarding the frequency of check-ups required to keep the body working well.

The low back, foot, knee and ankle were the most common regions for injury. The most frequent types of injury were abrasion and laceration. The biomechanical chain from the ankle-knee-hip-pelvis-low back is an important one, and the function of one area can influence the next. Awareness of the biomechanical chain is an important consideration in optimal management.

In conclusion, the study shows that adult Australian competitive surfers report greater physical and mental health compared to the general population, and surfing-related injuries are relatively common.

So whether you are a competitive surfer, or a weekend warrior, it pays to be aware of good body function, and injury management. And get out there and enjoy the benefits of such a healthy lifestyle.