Hi everyone.
What are the common injuries associated with kite surfing and how are they occurring.
eg.
ACL (torn) - Is this from landing kite loops and digging board in water?
Sprained ankles- one foot comes out of binding
Heel injuries- shallow water
Stitches to head- Board leashes/ (i got hit by my TT in surf- no helmet on)
What other injuries have popped up commonly and how can they be prevented?
A few more:
Sunburn - no sunscreen / out too long
Cracked ribs - slapping in too hard
Line burns - grabbing lines
Im sitting the season out with a broken wrist, dont put your hand out to break your fall in high speed crashing, nearly snapped my hand clean off.
cornea damage, surfer's ears, elbow and wrists tendinitis/sprains, back issues... You name it. Plenty of ways to get hurt in this sport, hence the extreme tag...
return home from sesh with some big stacks, lean down to give mrs a kiss, water leaks out of your nose onto her
Broken and dislocated finger when quick released and safety line wrapped around finger whilst kite dived. Finger never the same - cant close it after 12 months of OT. Then 2 months later stepped on and got stung by stingray at pt Walter- most pain I have ever been in - surgery to remove barb from foot - 2 days in hospital. Now got osteitis pubis. But what the hell - having a good time regardless.
Crushed vertabrae in neck while landboarding
Torn shoulder ligaments from release firing accidently
Heel injury from supermaning out of the water onto land (whilst learning kiteusrfing in Tarifa in a storm... on a 5m kite)
Smashed foot (1st,2nd,3rd and 5th Metatarsals broken, 3 cuboid bones smashed, torn lisfranc ligament <This is worst)
Lower back issue (still undiagnosed) from wakeboarding
Numerous bruises and scrapes
Surfers Ear
Sunburn
Slight frostnip to my cheek (Whilst kiting in Finland)
Still.... love being under a kite
de-gloving.... ouch.
getting cheese grated on barnicle encrusted rocks.
shoulder injuries from being lofted.
head injuries from getting slammed
drowning.
eaten
Abuse from the missus for spending to much time on the water and not enough with her/ jobs around the house can inflict some mental injury
Blisters within blisters - having too much fun.
Patella tendonitis (sucks; 4 months of pain) - having too much fun.
Broken metatarsal - crashed strapless, tried to land it, and didn't...
Deep fin cuts, mostly on my feet - see above.
Hematoma (severe bruising) on arm - crashing kiteloops, using arm to break my fall, again and again...
Concussion incl post concusion syndrome (nausea and balance problems - hit on back of head by someone else board
Black eye - crashing into water.
And worse for last: Diaphragmatic rupture - washed in a big wave, kite looping out of control, ripped the harness in half.
Like a junkie, I keep coming back for more.
Injury: Water up my a-hole from hitting the water at warp speed arse first trying to do a kite loop (warp speed may be a slight exaggeration, the first statement however is not...)
Prevention: (edit) Hopefully get better at kite loops, land on the board :)
Injury: sand burn on my arse from a poorly executed self landing in which the kite rolled over and powered up.
Prevention: Meh, **** happens. I was careful, and there was no one nearby, the kite lost wind near the ground and I didn't pull in the front line quick enough... Next time I would probably hit the eject, and flag out.
My missus broke her shoulder riding (well falling from) a horse on Friday, I went out kiting on Sunday as I had just picked up a new kite and man o man, did I cop it when I got home - worse that hitting the water hard after a big boost I can tell you!
double vision/concussion after a lame attempt to jump a sand bank and tipped the nose into the sand ...
shaken diaphragm after a side slam ..doc couldnt determine rib cracks but it hurt for 4 weeks and hurt when harness pulled up the first few sessions after.
got permanent ear "popping" but that has improved due to below (ie time off the water )
biggest and worst..shoulder dislocation (subluxation front and rear) ,complete with torn rotator cuff tendon..
fixed with cuff tendon repair
front and rear stabilisation
shoulder decompression ...
5 sodding months ago was my last kite and its going to be another 4-5 i reckon.
slow slow recovery , still on ROM exercises as joint has frozen slightly due to 8 weeks in a sling and internal damage caused...
as some may be aware this was documented on here as ive got the actual video of the crash..since taken it off www as dont want to be reminded of it now...
- Too many bruises...I looked like a dalmatian a few times...seriously.
- Cuts from boards and fins on my feet and legs.
- Perforated eardrum from a bad landing on my head.
- And the last one, torn ACL. Knee reconstruction in a few weeks.
Hey! keep on smilling! Gotta love kitesurfing!