The doctors from Surfmedizin e.V. collected data on the topic of wingfoiling injuries as part of a global, multilingual survey. The aim of the study was to analyse the frequency, mechanisms and risk factors for injuries and overuse injuries when wingfoiling as well as the acceptance of safety equipment. Numerous surf readers also took part.
The results were recently published internationally. Dr Thomas Gangl, one of the authors of the study, has summarised the findings for surf:
- 31% of the participants suffered at least one injury during the survey period, which corresponds to an injury incidence of 5.7 / 1000h (seasonal incidence of 0.86 injuries per wingfoiler / year).
- The most common injury mechanism was contact with their own sports equipment, almost all of which occurred on the water. Not a single injury was caused by contact with another water sports enthusiast. Individual riding errors, for example due to fatigue, were cited as the main cause.
- The most common types of acute injuries were bruises, strains, cuts and abrasions. These injuries mainly affected the lower extremities. The rare serious injuries such as broken bones mainly affected the chest.
- Chronic complaints / overuse injuries centred on the knee and shoulder joints with the surrounding muscles.
No increased risk of injury when wingfoiling
Compared to kitesurfing and windsurfing, the injuries are similar, according to the authors. The study showed a comparable risk of injury to classic windsurfing, while the risk of injury in kitesurfing is higher.
The acceptance of protective equipment such as helmets and impact protection waistcoats was also surveyed in the study. "The majority of participants already use these, although - according to the data - there is still room for improvement in terms of further injury prevention," say the authors.
Learning the sport correctly in water sports schools and taking regular breaks to recover can also contribute to a reduction in the risk of injury. In the case of chronic complaints, modifications to the riding technique and equipment as well as sport-specific training could bring about a reduction.
The complete publication can be here can be read here (English).
