Skateboarding is one of America’s most dangerous sports, but that doesn’t mean we can’t protect ourselves from injury (“Most dangerous,” 2011). Commonsense, protective gear, and skating within ones means are keys for avoiding a ride in the ambulance.
Many skaters are oblivious to the risks they take, and consider themselves untouchable. The numbers disagree. A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that about 26,000 people a year receive emergency treatment for skateboarding related injuries (“Community Medical,” 2010). Injuries like blunt force head trauma are the most serious and can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.
Annually, more than 16,000 American’s sustain traumatic head injuries (“Traumatic Brain,” n.d.). The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), advocates wearing a helmet to prevent concussion, blunt head trauma, and closed head injury that can occur when your head strikes the pavement or other hard surfaces (“Skateboarding Safety,” 2007).
Even when skaters acknowledge the possibility for injury, many refuse to wear a helmet because of the perception that helmets are “uncool”. You can avoid the stigma by rocking helmets from Bern® that combine superior impact protection without sacrificing style (“Bern Watts,” n.d.).
Less serious skateboarding injuries include broken and sprained ankles. Ankle sprains occur “when the foot twists, rolls, or turns beyond its normal motions. This causes the ligaments to stretch beyond their normal range in an abnormal position” (“Sprained Ankle,” n.d.). Depending on the severity of the sprain, it can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks to fully heal (“Recovery Time,” n.d.).
To prevent an ankle injury, avoid an awkward landing by learning how to bail properly. Wearing the right shoes also play a role in preventing sprains. Proper skateboarding shoes should provide cushioning and ankle support, and be made with polyurethane or STI foam that dampens impact from landings (“Guide to Skate,” n.d.).
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