Physics on Injuries
HIGH-VELOCITY INJURIES
Harland Hayes, University of Utah School of Medicine
It should be no great surprise to find out that the most serious of injuries that occur in the back country are those that are associated when people are moving with speed. There are common sports that by their very nature require speed such as skiing where injuries don’t have to occur. However, there are other sports that demand deliberate even delicate moves, such as rock climbing, where speed gained from a fall could be deadly. In any event, people just don’t experience major trauma unless high velocity is involved. Three of the most common outdoor activities where injuries from high velocity occur are mountain biking, skiing and rock climbing.
Mountain Bike Injuries
The National Bicycle Institute of America reports that there are 52 million cyclists in America today.
Bicycling is one of the fastest growing recreational and competitive activities in the U.S. As this sport increases in popularity, bicycling related injuries will become increasingly more common. Many in the backcountry away from traditional help
CYCLING ASSOCIATED TRAUMA Injury types in general cycling accidents Contusions 39.2% Abrasions 36.1% Lacerations 23.2% Fractures 16.1% Injuries by type for males Injuries by type for females Wound 36.5% Wound 35.2% Bruise 21.6% Bruise 33.0% Strain 16.3% Strain 15.4% Tendinitis 10.1% Sprain 6.6% Sprain 8.2% Tendinitis 5.5% Fracture 4.3% Fracture 4.4% Dislocation 2.9%
Percent injury by anatomical site and number receiving medical treatment, categorized by gender
MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE
Neck 44.2% 54.9% Thighs 7.5% 9.8%
Knees 40.1% 43.7% Elbows 4.1% 5.8%
Groin/Buttocks 37.4% 33.9% Head 4.1% 5.3%
Hands 29.6% 33.0% Hips 4.8% 3.6%
Shoulders 24.8% 37.5% Ankles 3.7% 3.6%
Back 31.6% 28.6% Achilles 2.0% 5.8%
Feet 13.9%
Harland Hayes, University of Utah School of Medicine
It should be no great surprise to find out that the most serious of injuries that occur in the back country are those that are associated when people are moving with speed. There are common sports that by their very nature require speed such as skiing where injuries don’t have to occur. However, there are other sports that demand deliberate even delicate moves, such as rock climbing, where speed gained from a fall could be deadly. In any event, people just don’t experience major trauma unless high velocity is involved. Three of the most common outdoor activities where injuries from high velocity occur are mountain biking, skiing and rock climbing.
Mountain Bike Injuries
The National Bicycle Institute of America reports that there are 52 million cyclists in America today.
Bicycling is one of the fastest growing recreational and competitive activities in the U.S. As this sport increases in popularity, bicycling related injuries will become increasingly more common. Many in the backcountry away from traditional help
CYCLING ASSOCIATED TRAUMA Injury types in general cycling accidents Contusions 39.2% Abrasions 36.1% Lacerations 23.2% Fractures 16.1% Injuries by type for males Injuries by type for females Wound 36.5% Wound 35.2% Bruise 21.6% Bruise 33.0% Strain 16.3% Strain 15.4% Tendinitis 10.1% Sprain 6.6% Sprain 8.2% Tendinitis 5.5% Fracture 4.3% Fracture 4.4% Dislocation 2.9%
Percent injury by anatomical site and number receiving medical treatment, categorized by gender
MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE
Neck 44.2% 54.9% Thighs 7.5% 9.8%
Knees 40.1% 43.7% Elbows 4.1% 5.8%
Groin/Buttocks 37.4% 33.9% Head 4.1% 5.3%
Hands 29.6% 33.0% Hips 4.8% 3.6%
Shoulders 24.8% 37.5% Ankles 3.7% 3.6%
Back 31.6% 28.6% Achilles 2.0% 5.8%
Feet 13.9%