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In-line Skating and Injuries
An increasing number of children are taking up in-line skating, and it is those new skaters who are most at risk for injuries, according to a statement from an American research institute.
Some 17.7 million people younger than age 18 participated in the sport in the US in 1996, a 24% increase over the previous year.
Also in 1996, in-line skating injuries sent 76,000 skaters under the age of 21 to the emergency room. Inexperienced skaters accounted for 14% of all injuries requiring treatment.
The most common reasons for injuries were losing one's balance due to road debris, being unable to stop, out-of-control speeding, or falls while doing a trick.
One third of skating injuries are to the wrist, and two thirds of wrist injuries are fractures. Wearing wrist guards could reduce the number of these injuries by an estimated 87%, according to the AAP.
Likewise, elbow pads could reduce elbow injuries by 82%, and knee pads could reduce the number of knee injuries by 32%, advise the experts.
Helmet used by young skaters is required by law in New York and Oregon, and the research institute also recommends that young skaters wear a bicycle helmet or a similar approved sports helmet.
The age at which children are ready to use in-line skates depends upon a number of conditions, including the child's foot size and body strength, general athletic ability and muscle coordination, and the ability to judge traffic and pay attention to the condition of the skating surface ahead, the experts advise.
The most dangerous skating practice, called "truck-surfing", involves skating while holding onto a moving vehicle. Few skaters have fatal injuries, but 31 out of 36 deaths reported since 1992 involved being knocked down by a motor vehicle, according to data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.