How to prevent injuries when skateboarding?

Skateboarding involves fast movements, daring jumps and acrobatic tricks that involve a high risk of falling. Injuries are therefore common, ranging from minor scrapes to more serious fractures that require medical attention. How can you minimize the risks to fully enjoy your passion? We take stock with Sophie Berthollet, president and co-founder of the Realaxe association (Paris).

As you will have understood, injuries are quite frequent in skateboarding. And this for several reasons:

• It often involves rapid movements, jumps and acrobatic tricks that inevitably increase the risk of falls and injuries.
• Maintaining balance on a moving skateboard is quite a challenge, especially for beginners. Loss of balance are often the cause of falls.
• Learning new figures like ollies, kickflips, and grinds involve sometimes unpredictable jumps and landings, increasing the risk of injury.
• The surfaces on which skateboarders operate (roads, skateparks, ramps) may present obstacles, irregularities or debrisall factors that cause falls.
• A damaged board or poorly maintained can also be the cause of falls which are all the more risky as many skaters ignore the usual protections such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads or wrist guards.

Falls, sudden landings and repeated movements can result in a variety of traumatic injuries, ranging from simple abrasions to complex fractures.

Frequent falls can cause bruises, which are bruises and some blueon various parts of the body, especially the knees, elbows and hips. They can also causescratchessuperficial abrasions of the skin from contact with rough surfaces, or even cuts and of wounds more or less deep caused by the edges of the board, stairs or even any sharp object.

THE ankle sprains are among the most common skateboarding injuries. They often occur when landing badly or making false movements. While some sprains are relatively benign, others can involve ligament tears and can be much more serious. “Wrist sprains are also common because we often tend to catch ourselves with our hands when we fall!” warns Sophie Berthollet.

Dislocations are less common than scrapes, bruises or sprains. However, they can occur after serious falls, especially at theshoulders, fingers, even elbows. Concretely, they correspond to the abnormal and very painful movement of a joint. Apart from the pain, several signs can alert, such as a visible deformation, swelling and an inability to move the affected area. Immediate care is necessary to put the joint back in place!

In the event of a fall, the first reflex is often to put your hands forward to cushion the fall, which can sometimes cause bone fractures at the level wrists. But many areas can also be prone to fractures, such as the forearms and arms, the collarbones, the ribs, the tibia or even the ankle. These fractures can range in severity from simple fractures (where the bone remains aligned) to more complex fractures (where the bone is broken into multiple pieces or displaced). They often require immobilization and, in some cases, surgery.

Concussions and head injuries are probably the most serious injuries that can occur while skating. Fortunately, they are quite rare and can be avoided by wearing a helmet. As a reminder, a concussion refers to a form of mild head trauma that temporarily affects brain function following a blow or shock to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. Symptoms can range from mild headaches to loss of consciousness, confusion, or nausea.

THE head traumathey include more severe head injuries, such as skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhages, or diffuse brain injuries. They can manifest as prolonged loss of consciousness, seizures, bleeding from the nose or ears, speech disorders, or muscle weakness. In any case, this is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate care and medical supervision!

Tendinopathies are common injuries in experienced skaters who train regularly. This is because tendons can be subjected to significant stress due to repetitive movements, frequent jumping, and impacts. Some of the most common tendinopathies include: Achilles tendon tendinopathies, peroneal tendon tendinopathies (ankle), patellar tendinopathies (jumper's knee), and wrist tendinopathies.

Fortunately, there are several preventive measures that allow you to practice skateboarding safely and minimize the risk of injury…

As with any sport, theWarm-up and dynamic stretching are essential to prepare the body for exercise. “A good warm-up increases blood circulation, body temperature and joint flexibility, thereby reducing the risk of sprains and muscle tension,” reminds Sophie Berthollet. Start with a few minutes of brisk walking or light jogging, then move on to classic movements, such as arm circles, jumping jacks, squats, lunges and torso twists. Also remember to prepare your ankles, wrists and fingers!

Wearing protective gear is often overlooked, but it is essential to reduce the risk of injury, especially for beginners. In addition to good shoes, a well-fitting helmet is essential to protect the head from trauma. wrist guardsTHE knee pads and the elbow pads also provide extra protection against bruises, sprains and fractures. “Wearing equipment may not be compatible with your vision of skating, but it can really make a difference in the event of a fall and give you more confidence to try new tricks,” emphasizes Sophie Berthollet.

Note: Also remember to regularly check the condition of your wheels, trucks and board to make sure there are no cracks or loose parts!

It goes without saying, but it's better to say it: don't constantly try to push your limits. It is indeed crucial to learn to listen to your body and avoid skating when you are very tired or in pain.

Environmental conditions can also compromise the safety of skateboarders: avoid skating on uneven, cluttered or wet surfaces can prevent falls and accidents. Additionally, skating in well-lit areas and away from car traffic greatly reduces the risks.

It's hard to answer this question in a few lines… As Sophie Berthollet explains, ease is acquired over time with practice. “Beginners, like experienced skaters, have every interest in taking lessons with professionals to improve their technique and benefit from personalized advice,” she notes. And to insist: “ Learning to skateboard should be gradual, “It is absolutely essential to master the basics before attempting complex figures.” The basic technique to master is as follows:

• Place your front foot at the front trucks of the skateboard (the front screws). Your back foot should be at the rear screws or on the tail (the back of the skateboard).
• Keep your knees slightly bent to better absorb shock and maintain balance.
• Distribute your weight evenly on both feet.
• Start by riding slowly on a flat surface to get used to the balance and movements of the skateboard.
• Learn to push with the back foot while keeping the front foot stable on the board.
• And practice turning by shifting your weight and using your heels and toes to tilt the board.

There are several techniques for falling while limiting the risk of injury:

• If you feel like you're going to fall, do not resist the fall. Try to stay relaxed and prepare to roll to limit the impact.
• Always think about protect your head by tucking your chin in and protecting your face if necessary.
• If you fall forward, try bending your elbows and rolling onto your shoulder.
• If you fall backward, try rolling onto your back.

Ideally, seek advice from an expert and practicalz controlled falls on grass or a mat to get used to the feeling and improve your rolling technique, recommends Sophie Berthollet. And she concludes: “By adopting preventive measures, such as wearing protective equipment, using appropriate equipment, progressive training and vigilanceyou will minimize the risks and fully enjoy your passion in complete safety!”