Influence of technical skill level and sport specialization on surfing injuries: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 2024-10, Vol.40, p.1140-1145
• Main Authors: Santisteban, Aitor, Muñoz-Pérez, Iker, Río, Xabier, Sáez, Iker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Athletic Performance - physiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Motor skills; Risk factors; Self Concept; Specialization; Water Sports - injuries; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1360-8592; 1532-9283; 1532-9283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.07.008

This study aimed to analyze the influence of sport specialization and the level of technical skills on injury risk in male surfers. Descriptive epidemiological study. Web-based surveys. 295 male surfers participated in the present study, of whom 25 (8.47%) were competitive surfers, and 270 (91.53%) were recreational surfers. This study consisted of a single registry. A web-based survey was used to record information on the injuries sustained during the past year. No association was detected between the surfer's performance level and having suffered an injury during the practice (p > 0.05). Conversely, the results indicated that the higher the level of specialization, the greater the likelihood of suffering a sports-related injury (χ2 (3) = 12.9 p = 0.005; ES = 0.20). In addition, surfers who showed a medium-high self-concept of their skills (scores of 6, 7, and 8) tend not to get fewer injuries (χ2 (8) = 36.8 p