With the excitement surrounding the X Games coming to Austin in June, some people may forget that the X stands for ‘Extreme’. And just like their name, extreme sports pose extreme injury risks.
A new, one-of-a-kind study presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that while extreme sports might be more thrilling than traditional team sports, they present a more serious risk of head and neck injuries. Researchers reviewed 2000-2011 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data for seven popular sports featured in the Winter and Summer X Games: surfing, mountain biking, motocross, skateboarding, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snow skiing.
The study found that of the 4 million injuries reported for extreme sport participants, 11.3 percent were head and neck injuries (HNI). Of all HNI reported in extreme sports, 83 percent were head injuries and 17 percent neck injuries. The data included all ages; however, not surprisingly, teens and young adults accounted for the highest percentage of extreme sport injuries.
So if you already participate in extreme sports or are inspired by the X Games to start, make sure you are aware of the risks and wear a helmet to prevent head and neck injuries.
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