01 Overview
Inline skating is a recreational and competitive multidisciplinary sport. Inline skates have at least 2 and up to 5 polyurethane wheels, worn on the underside of a boot with adjustable straps or laces. Unlike roller skates, the wheels are arranged ‘in-line’ and this design allows for faster speed and increased maneuverability. While there is some risk for physical injury in inline skating, there is evidence that these injuries can be prevented.
(see Section 04 - Prevention)
View Common Injuries by clicking the blue dots on the silhouette
Forearm fractures are the most common injury in inline skating.
Wrist fractures and sprains are common injuries in inline skating.
Elbow fractures are a less common injury compared to forearm and wrist fractures, but they can and do occur while inline skating.
02 Injury Statistics
The most common injury in inline skating is fractures, followed by soft tissue injuries such as contusions, abrasions and lacerations. The most common area fractured is the forearm, followed by the wrist, hand, and elbow.
Curious about the research on injuries?
It is estimated that...
Graphical Data
03 Risk Factors
-
Skating Surface
Inline skaters are at higher risk of injury skating on uneven surfaces. Inline skaters are at an almost 9 times higher risk of sustaining an injury from skating on ramps, railings, or ledges.
-
Exposure
The amount of time spent inline skating per week was found to be a risk factor. Those who skated more than 10 hours a week were more likely to be injured than those who skated less than 10 hours.
-
Maneuvers
Inline skaters who perform tricks or stunts are more likely to be injured than those who do not perform tricks or stunts.
04 How can I prevent injury?
Some muscle soreness or joint pain is expected when increasing your level of physical activity. It is important to listen to your body for persistent or worsening pain, and to know when to rest. Learn more about how to prevent injuries in inline skating.
-
Participant & Parent
Talk to your coach or organization, if applicable, about the prevention strategies below and how they might be incorporated into training and policies.
Equipment
Using properly fitted protective personal equipment while inline skating can reduce your risk of injury. This includes helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Inline skaters are 10 times at higher risk of suffering a wrist injury when not wearing wrist guards and almost 10 times at higher risk of sustaining an elbow injury when not wearing elbow pads.
Managing Concussion
While current research evidence around concussions is extremely limited for inline skating, it is important to be aware of concussion signs and symptoms and know what to do if concussion is suspected. TheConcussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT)is an online resource for players and parents to learn more about how to recognize, prevent, and manage a concussion. CATT also includes resources on how to respond to a potential concussion situation, as well as detailed Return to School and Return to Sport protocol.
Strength Training and Neuromuscular Training Program
The risk of injuries may be reduced by regular participation in a balance training exercise program with a resistance training component, such as a neuromuscular training warm-up program.
Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre Neuromuscular Training
The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre has developed a neuromuscular training warm-up program that can be adapted to many sports.Click here to view poster.
Other Considerations (about this section)
Equipment
A properly fitted helmet can decrease the risk of brain injury by 80%. Bike helmets can be used for inline skating, and either CPSC, CSA, ASTM or Snell certification is important. The labeling for multisport helmets should be checked to see whether it has been tested for inline skating. If needed, the manufacturer can be contacted for clarification. For more information, please visit the Parachute Canada website.Sleep, Vigilance and Sport Injury Prevention
Being successful in physical activity requires a high degree of alertness, also known as vigilance. Sufficient sleep helps your body to recover, allows you to achieve your goals, and reduces your risk of injury. Getting less than 8 hours of sleep can increase your rate of injury by up to 70%! Watch this video to learn more about how sleep and vigilance are connected.Sport-related Physicals
Inline skating can be a physically demanding sport and some pre-existing conditions may increase the risk of injury. A sport-related physical evaluation at the beginning of each season ensuring fitness to play can help to reduce risk of injury. KidsHealth provides information about what sports physicals are, why they may be appropriate and where you may go to get them.Learn more about Kids Health Sports Physicals.
-
Coach & Teacher
Talk to your organization or school, if applicable, about the prevention strategies below and how they might be incorporated into training and policies.
Equipment
Using properly fitted protective personal equipment while inline skating can reduce the risk of injury. This includes helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Inline skaters are 10 times at higher risk of suffering a wrist injury when not wearing wrist guards and almost 10 times at higher risk of sustaining an elbow injury when not wearing elbow pads.
Managing Concussion
While current research evidence around concussions is extremely limited for inline skating, it is important to be aware of concussion signs and symptoms and know what to do if concussion is suspected. TheConcussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT)is an online resource for coaches and teachers to learn more about how to recognize, prevent, and manage a concussion. CATT also includes resources on how to respond to a potential concussion situation, as well as detailed Return to School and Return to Sport protocol.
Strength Training and Neuromuscular Training Program
The risk of injuries may be reduced by regular participation in a balance training exercise program with a resistance training component, such as a neuromuscular training warm-up program.
Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre Neuromuscular Training
The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre has developed a neuromuscular training warm-up program that can be adapted to many sports.Click here to viewposter.
Other Considerations (about this section)
Equipment
A properly fitted helmet can decrease the risk of brain injury by 80%. Bike helmets can be used for inline skating, and either CPSC, CSA, ASTM or Snell certification is important. The labeling for multisport helmets should be checked to see whether it has been tested for inline skating. If needed, the manufacturer can be contacted for clarification. For more information, please visit the Parachute Canada website.Sport-related Physicals
Inline skating can be a physically demanding sport and some pre-existing conditions may increase the risk of injury. A sport-related physical evaluation at the beginning of each season ensuring fitness to play can help to reduce risk of injury. KidsHealth provides information about what sports physicals are, why they may be appropriate and where you may go to get them.Learn more about Kids Health Sports Physicals.
-
Official & Administrator
Talk to your coaches, teachers, organization, or school, if applicable, about the prevention strategies below and how they might be incorporated into training and policies.
Equipment
Using properly fitted protective personal equipment while inline skating can reduce the risk of injury. This includes helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Inline skaters are 10 times at higher risk of suffering a wrist injury when not wearing wrist guards and almost 10 times at higher risk of sustaining an elbow injury when not wearing elbow pads.
Managing Concussion
While current research evidence around concussions is extremely limited for inline skating, it is important to be aware of concussion signs and symptoms and know what to do if concussion is suspected. TheConcussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT)is an online resource to learn more about how to recognize, prevent, and manage a concussion. CATT also includes resources on how to respond to a potential concussion situation, as well as detailed Return to School and Return to Sport protocol.
Strength Training and Neuromuscular Training Program
The risk of injuries may be reduced by regular participation in a balance training exercise program with a resistance training component, such as a neuromuscular training warm-up program.
Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre Neuromuscular Training
The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre has developed a neuromuscular training warm-up program that can be adapted to many sports.Click here to view poster.
Other Considerations (about this section)
Equipment
A properly fitted helmet can decrease the risk of brain injury by 80%. Bike helmets can be used for inline skating, and either CPSC, CSA, ASTM or Snell certification is important. The labeling for multisport helmets should be checked to see whether it has been tested for inline skating. If needed, the manufacturer can be contacted for clarification. For more information, please visit the Parachute Canada website.Sport-related Physicals
Inline skating can be a physically demanding sport and some pre-existing conditions may increase the risk of injury. A sport-related physical evaluation at the beginning of each season ensuring fitness to play can help to reduce risk of injury. KidsHealth provides information about what sports physicals are, why they may be appropriate and where you may go to get them.Learn more about Kids Health Sports Physicals.
-
Health Professional
The role of health professionals in preventing inline skating injuries has two main components:
- Providing ongoing education to participants, parents, and coaches on effective injury prevention programs such as balance and resistance training; and
- Ensuring that injured participants are completely healed and fit-to-perform before returning to skating to prevent re-injury or chronic injury.
Equipment
Using properly fitted protective personal equipment while inline skating can reduce the risk of injury. This includes helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Inline skaters are 10 times at higher risk of suffering a wrist injury when not wearing wrist guards and almost 10 times at higher risk of sustaining an elbow injury when not wearing elbow pads.
Managing Concussion
While current research evidence around concussions is extremely limited for inline skating, it is important to be aware of concussion signs and symptoms and know what to do if concussion is suspected. TheConcussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT)is an online resource to learn more about how to diagnose and manage a concussion. CATT also includes resources on how to assess a potential concussion, as well as detailed Return to School and Return to Sport protocol.
Strength Training and Neuromuscular Training Program
The risk of injuries may be reduced by regular participation in a balance training exercise program with a resistance training component, such as a neuromuscular training warm-up program.
Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre Neuromuscular Training
The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre has developed a neuromuscular training warm-up program that can be adapted to many sports.Click here to viewposter.
Other Considerations (about this section)
Sport-related Physicals
Inline skating is a physically demanding sport and some pre-existing conditions may increase the risk of injury. A sport-related physical evaluation at the beginning of each season ensuring fitness to play can help to reduce risk of injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides information about pre-participation physical evaluation.Learn more about Preparticipation Physical Evaluation.
Equipment
A properly fitted helmet can decrease the risk of brain injury by 80%. Bike helmets can be used for inline skating, and either CPSC, CSA, ASTM or Snell certification is important. The labeling for multi-sport helmets should be checked to see whether it has been tested for inline skating. If needed, the manufacturer can be contacted for clarification. For more information, please visit the Parachute Canada website.
Curious about the research?
Directly see the Evidence Summary
As a seasoned enthusiast and expert in the field of inline skating, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the sport's dynamics, safety measures, and injury prevention strategies. My expertise is grounded in both practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of the available research and evidence.
Let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
01 Overview
Inline Skating:
- Recreational and competitive multidisciplinary sport.
- Inline skates have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels arranged in-line for increased speed and maneuverability.
02 Injury Statistics
Common Injuries:
- Fractures are the most common injury, particularly in the forearm.
- Soft tissue injuries like contusions, abrasions, and lacerations also prevalent.
- Forearm, wrist, hand, and elbow are the most affected areas.
03 Risk Factors
Skating Surface:
- Higher risk on uneven surfaces.
- Almost 9 times higher risk for injuries on ramps, railings, or ledges.
Exposure:
- Skating for more than 10 hours a week increases the likelihood of injuries.
Maneuvers:
- Performing tricks or stunts increases the risk of injury.
04 Prevention
Protective Equipment:
- Properly fitted helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads reduce the risk of injury.
- Not wearing wrist guards increases the risk of wrist injury tenfold, and the same goes for elbow pads.
Concussion Management:
- Limited research on concussions, but awareness is crucial.
- The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) is a resource for recognizing, preventing, and managing concussions.
Strength and Neuromuscular Training:
- Regular participation in a balance and resistance training program can reduce the risk of injuries.
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre has developed a neuromuscular training warm-up program.
Other Considerations:
- Properly fitted helmets can decrease the risk of brain injury by 80%.
- Sleep, vigilance, and sufficient rest are vital for injury prevention.
- Sport-related physical evaluations at the beginning of each season can help reduce the risk of injury.
Curious about the Research?
- There is a mention of an Evidence Summary that provides a deeper understanding of the research behind inline skating injuries.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of protective equipment, awareness of risk factors, and proper training programs in preventing injuries associated with inline skating. The evidence-based approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the sport and effective injury prevention strategies for participants, coaches, teachers, and health professionals alike.
