Accidents and injuries in competitive Enduro motorcyclists: a prospective analysis.

The Erzberg Rodeo Motor Enduro race, was analyzed over three consecutive years to analyze the risk of sustaining an accident, to determine the kind and site of injured body regions and to correlate the incidence of accidents with the site on the race track suspiring that most accidents happen at the first- and the last-third. In this prospective, field study questionnaires were used recoding fallen riders. Demographic data, the third of the race track on which the accident happened and details of the accident itself like its mechanism were noted. Each injured body region was recorded separately and rated according to the abbreviated injury scale. Two thousand nine hundred and twenty-three athletes started in 3 years in the Erzberg Rodeo; 6% of them had an accident and 94% were non-professionals. Overall, the average abbreviated injury scale was 2.8. More than 80% of all counted injuries were superficial. Most accidents happened in a curve due to the front tire sliding, affecting mostly arm and leg. Overall 67% of all accidents happened at day 1 of the race and 41% of all accidents happened in the first-third of the race track. Competitive Enduro motorcyclists have a high risk of sustaining an accident, but in comparison a low risk of sustaining a severe injury. Curves are the predominant site of accidents.

The Enduro motorcyclist's wrist and other overuse injuries in competitive Enduro motorcyclists: a prospective study.

According to public opinion, Enduro motorcycling is a dangerous sport. Little is known about overuse injuries in connection with this sport. The study consisted of two phases. Phase 1 was planned as a prospective feasibility study for phase 2. The latter was initiated as a prospective investigation, comprising a random sample of the participants of phase 1. Enduro motorcyclists were interviewed with a prepared questionnaire. Clinical examinations were performed immediately before, and after, a major Enduro race, including pain assessment in the hand/wrist and the forearm using the visual analog scale. The occurrence of Raynaud's syndrome carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and loss of grip strength in the forearm muscles were recorded in detail. Phase 1 showed that the predominant overused anatomical regions were the hand/wrist and forearms. Nearly 50% of all the riders complained of pain or paresthetic sensations. A significant increase in pain was registered after the race. After the second run 32.28% of all riders had CTS in the left hand and 43.31% in the right hand. More than one-half of the athletes complained of overuse injuries. Transient CTS is an overuse injury closely related to sports.