If you enjoy adrenaline, speed, water, and risk, surfing may be the sport for you. But before you get in the water, it is always good to know about the possible injuries you may sustain, and understanding how to avoid them is equally important. Though one of the biggest fears for anyone catching waves may be shark-related, some injuries are much more common. Below, we discuss them in detail.
The most common surfing injuries include dislocations, concussions, and head injuries, but may also include more specific injuries such as “surfer’s ear.” Though you may be unable to avoid them all, using the right equipment and practicing body awareness may help reduce the risk of serious injury.
Whether you’re newer to the sport or a veteran surfer, knowing the injuries you may sustain and how to avoid them is valuable information to keep yourself safe and prepared in any situation. Let’s look in more expansive detail at the most common surfing injuries. We’ll also give you more detail on how to avoid these injuries and ensure you stay safe the next time you go chasing waves.
Common Surfing Injuries
Though there are more injuries that you may sustain while surfing, the list below is some of the most common ones.
Surfer’s Ear
Surfer’s ear, though common under surfers, isn’t a surfing-only injury but gets caused by prolonged exposure to cold water. Due to repeated exposure to water under 66°F, the ear’s bone develops growths that, while not initially harming the person, may cause other problems such as hearing loss, water getting trapped, and a build-up of thick or dry skin in the ear, along with recurring infections.
Head Injuries And Concussions
There are many possible ways that head injuries may occur while surfing, one of the most common being a surfboard hitting a surfer. With this in mind, some after-effects may include dizziness, confusion, and blurry vision. If a surfer sustains repeated head injuries, there may also be a chance of serious cognitive issues.
Though concussions and other head-based trauma are common under surfers, there is also a chance that a concussion may result in loss of consciousness, with studies showing that up to 9% of participants have lost consciousness due to head trauma while surfing.
Shoulder Dislocations
As with many other sports, surfing also carries the possibility of dislocation, with shoulder dislocations being some of the most common. Shoulder dislocation may happen for many different reasons but putting your shoulder back into place as soon as possible is imperative since relocating after a dislocation can become more painful if you wait.
You may be able to use one of these many techniques to fix your shoulder if you have the help of others; however, in severe cases when surgery is needed, it must get followed with immediate rehabilitation to ensure you can continue surfing.
Ankle And Knee Sprains
Another set of common surfing injuries are spraints, usually ankle or knee spraints, that may occur due to a wave hitting you too hard or slipping off your surfboard. Unfortunately, this is a common surfing injury since it is easy to have one foot slip off your surfboard while the other remains on the board; with the added pressure from a wave, it is easy for your foot or leg to go in the wrong direction.
Cuts And Lacerations From Fins And Other Equipment
Cuts and lacerations are the most common surfing injuries and can happen because of your or someone else’s surfboard or equipment or even because of rocks you can’t see or steer clear of. Though some of these may not be serious surfing injuries, it is always best to examine them to ensure you do not get an infection that may keep you out of the water for an extended time.
Sunburn And Skin Damage
Whether you were out for too long and sustained sunburn or have redness or rashes due to your wetsuit or chafing, these injuries can be very annoying, though they may not be the most severe. You can use several things to protect yourself from getting injured this way, but they are still some of the most common surfing injuries and can make your surfing experience less than optimal.
Though most of the skin damage you may sustain as a surfer is minor, there are reports that surfers may be up to three times as likely to develop melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
How To Prevent Surfing Injuries And Stay Safe In The Water
Below we discuss some ways to avoid injuries and stay safe in the water.
Wear Protective Gear, Including Helmets And Rash Guards
Protective gear is essential while surfing, and it is best to remember that having fun in a way that will not lead to injury is much more important than looking good. If you want to enjoy surfing for a long time, using protective gear such as helmets to protect you against head injuries and rash guards to help prevent rashes is vital.
Many people also recommend using full-length wet suits to help prevent sunburn and the possibility of developing melanoma.
Practice Good Surfing Technique And Body Awareness
Bad technique and not practicing good body awareness can cause many common surfing injuries discussed above. Whether you’re newer to the sport or have been surfing for years, good technique and body awareness are essential for keeping yourself and other surfers safe.
If you use the correct surfing techniques, you lower the chance of sprains, dislocations, and head trauma due to collisions, and body awareness can also help you avoid cuts.
Warm Up Properly Before Surfing
Another great way to avoid sprains, tears, and dislocations is doing warm-up exercises before you get on your board. Some essential areas to warm up and get loose before you get into the water are your arms and shoulders, legs, glutes, ankles, and neck and back, if possible.
You can find some great exercises here if you want to ensure your body is ready for the waves and reap the potential performance benefits of warming up before you surf.
Choose Surf Spots Appropriate For Your Skill Level
If you’ve been surfing for a while now, you’ll be aware that not everywhere is the same, and specific skill levels go along with where you go surfing. Whether it’s the speed or ferocity of the waves or the number of obstacles you must overcome, ensuring you surf at areas within your skill level is essential to avoid unnecessary injury.
Before taking on a wave, it may be best to read up a bit about the wave if possible. Surfer Today is one of many sites that can give you more information and includes an experience level with each wave analyzed by their team.
Know Your Limits And Don’t Push Yourself Too Hard
As with any other sport, knowing your limits and when to stop can help you avoid injury. By being mindful of what you can or cannot do, you can prevent damage and keep yourself and other surfers in the area safe. Don’t push yourself too hard; surfing should be fun.
Be Aware Of The Potential Hazards In The Water And On The Shore
Along with surfing within your skill level and practicing good body awareness, ensuring you know about the possible obstacles and hazards in the area, both in the water and close to and on the shore, is essential to keep yourself out of danger and injury free. Though you may not have the ability to see all the potential risks, keeping your eyes open and knowing about the possibilities can help.
Though you may be able to spot some of the naturally occurring hazards, it is also beneficial to consider risks caused by surfers crowding the area.
Conclusion
Surfing can be thrilling and rewarding, but it’s essential to be aware of the risks and take steps to stay safe in any way you can. By understanding common surfing injuries and taking measures to prevent them, you can enjoy the waves with confidence and minimize your risk of injury or worse and keep the other surfers around you safer at the same time.
