Skateboarding injuries: Taking risks to extremes

Philadelphia is rich in skateboarding culture and this time of year, you can see skaters out in droves soaking up the rays and riding their boards at skate parks like FDR and Paine Skate Parks and even at your local playground. As with all extreme sports, they love the shot of endorphins that races through them as they set up for a new trick. However, while skaters are no stranger to risk-taking, the medical community worries that they take unnecessary risks with their safety.

Dr. R. Robert Franks, sports medicine physician at Rothman Institute, sees the number of skateboarding injuries increase every year when the weather turners warmer. The most common injuries are concussions, lacerations and broken bones.

According to Stephanie Geslao, trauma prevention coordinator with the Kohl's Injury Prevention Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, in 2012, there were over 80,000 children under the age of 19 seen in emergency rooms in the United States for skateboard injuries.

Skateboarding does not have the protections of other sports. Although safety equipment like helmets and wrist guards, knee pads and mouth guards can help reduce the force of a fall, many skaters don't like wearing them because they restrict their motion. Currently, there is no legislation that requires skateboarders to wear helmets or any protective padding.

Another challenge is ensuring that an injured skater gets proper treatment for a concussion. The signs of a concussion are not always easy to identify. Dr. Franks explained, "In other sports, there are policies in place to recognize signs of a concussion and to get proper treatment. There is no certified athletic trainer or physician at the skate park."

The signs of a concussion are not always easy to identify. A skater can have a concussion after a head injury even if he didn't lose consciousness.  It is up to the skater, others with him at the park and the parents to be educated on what the signs are. This is why community education is so important.  If a concussed skater gets back on the board too soon and hits his head again, he is at risk for second impact syndrome which can lead to physical and mental disability and sometimes death.

How to properly fit a helmet: It should sit level on the head and low on the forehead, about one or two finger-widths above the eyebrows.  The side straps should form a V around the ear, with the bottom of the V just under the earlobe.  The chin strap should be tightened snugly under the chin.

"There are different types of helmets so make sure you wear one approved for skateboarding," recommended Geslao.

Other safety tips to prevent injury: Check your board for cracks and only ride on smooth surfaces in well lit areas away from traffic. Children (5 years+) should learn the proper way to fall when learning to skateboard.

Dr. Franks also emphasizes the importance of choosing facilities that are specifically designed for skateboarding instead of just heading to the local park.

Learn more about concussions at Rothman Institute's Sports Concussion Program and for general safety tips, visit Kohl's Injury Prevention Program.

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.