Women sport injuries: A retrospective study of elite windsurfers

Alfonso Penichet Tomás, Diego Alonso-Fernández, Agueda Gutierrez-Sanchez, Eliseo Andreu-Cabrera, Concepción Suárez-Llorca

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the injuries of professional women windsurfers, from their anatomical location, type of sport, context when they occurred, type of injury, the time of inactivity as a result of the same, the type of health care received and the relationship between the number of injuries and the position in the final classification of professional windsurfing competitions. We gave a retrospective questionnaire to 18 women elite windsurfers, who took part in the World Cup competition held in Fuerteventura (2008). Women are injured more frequently during training than competition (77.8%; p<0.05 vs. 20.5%). Women suffer leg injuries more than men (83.3%; p<0.05 vs. 14.3%) in freestyle. Serious injuries were more frequent for women (66.7%; p<0.05 vs. 28.2%) and the time of inactivity due to the injury was shorter for women (50%; p<0.05 vs. 20.5%). These results indicate that female windsurfers are more liable to suffer injuries, generally serious, during training sessions. Freestyle involves a greater risk of leg injuries for women. The knee is the area where most injuries occur, both for men and women, followed by the legs.

Keywords

Windsurfing; Injury; Competition; Prevention; Women

References

Dyson, R., Buchanan, M., Hale, T. Incidence of sports injuries in elite competitive and recreational windsurfers. Br J Sports Med. 2006; 40(4):346-350. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.023077

Gosheger, G., Jagersverg, K., Linnenbecker, S., Meissner, H.J., Winkelmann, W. Verletzungsmuster und - prophylaxe beim World-Cup-Windsurfen. Sportverletz Sportsc. 2001; 15(2):50. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-14815

Jablecki, C.K., Garner, S. Neurological complications of windsurfing (sailboarding). Semin Neurol. 2000; 20:219-23. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2000-9831

Kalegeromitros, A., Tsangaris, H., Bilalis, D., Karabinis, A. Severe accidents due to windsurfing in the Aegean Sea. Eur J Emer Med. 2002; 9:149-54. https://doi.org/10.1097/00063110-200206000-00009

Knijnik, J.D. Rhizomatic bodies, gendered waves: transitional femininities in Brazilian Surf. Sport in Society. 2010; 13(7):1170-1186. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430431003780138

McCormick, D.P., Davis, A.L. Injuries in sailboards enthusiasts. Br J Sports Med. 1988; 22:95-97. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.22.3.95

Nathanson, A., Bird, S., Dao, L., Tam-Sing, K. Competitive Surfing Injuries, a prospective study of surfing-related injuries among surfers. Am J Sports Med. 2007; 35(1):113-117. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546506293702

Nathanson, A.T., Reinert, S.E. Windsurfing injuries: results of a paper- and internet-based survey. Wild Environ Med. 1999; 10:218-25. https://doi.org/10.1580/1080-6032(1999)010[0218:WIROAP]2.3.CO;2

Pérez-Navarro Castillo, J.L. Lesiones en el windsurf. Universidad Católica de San Antonio. Murcia: España, 2008.

Pérez-Turpin, J.A. Fuenteventura World Cup: windsurfing and kiteboarding: 2008. J Hum Sport Exerc. 2009; 4(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.4100/jhse.2009.41.01

Petersen W, Rau J, Hansen U. Mechanics and prevention of windsurfing injuries. Sportverletz Sportsc. 2003; 17:118-122.

Pryma, M., Plotz, G.M., Jerosch, J. Verletzungsmechanismen bei Regattawindsurfern. Sportverletz Sportsc. 1999; 13:107:11. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-993325

Rosenbaum, D.A., Dietz, T.E. Windsurfing injuries: added awareness for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Phys Sportsmed. 2002; 30(5):15-24. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2002.05.280

Salvi, M., Velluti, C., Concu, A., Ariu, U., Atzori, A., Dessy, D., Sichel, G. Retrospective epidemiological evaluation of acute and overuse injuries of muscle and bone in windsurfers. Journal of Sports Traumatology and Related Research. 1997; 19: 30-7.

Sedlaczek, P. History, cultural context and terminology of windsurfing. Studies in Physical Culture & Tourism. 2009; 16:115-124.

Witt, J., Paaske, P., Jorgensen, U. Injuries in windsurfing due to foot fixation. Scand J Med Sci Spor. 1995; 5(5):311-312. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.1995.tb00051.x




DOI: https://doi.org/10.4100/jhse.2012.72.10