Open AccessCommon Injuries in Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, and Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
Author(s) -
Jack Spittler,
Ryan Gillum,
Kristen DeSanto
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current sports medicine reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.424
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1537-8918
pISSN - 1537-890X
DOI - 10.1249/jsr.0000000000000763
Subject(s) - paddle , recreation , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , medical emergency , ecology , engineering , pathology , mechanical engineering , biology
Paddle sports continue to be popular forms of outdoor recreation in the United States and around the world. This includes not only the more traditional sports of rafting, kayaking, and canoeing but also the newer and growing sport of stand-up paddle boarding. Because these sports are based in an aquatic environment, and frequently whitewater, there are unique, significant risks of injury. Overall, injuries in paddling sports are mostly musculoskeletal and are both acute and chronic in nature. Some injuries, such as environmental and head injuries, are especially problematic because they can lead to serious morbidity and mortality, most importantly drowning. This review describes the epidemiology, type, and location of injuries across paddle sports. It not only focuses on whitewater injuries but also includes information on injuries sustained in other aquatic paddling environments.