Factors affecting wrist guard use amongst snowboarders

Abstract

Some studies have found that snowboarders have up to 2.4 times as many fractures as skiers. Wrist injuries are the most common injury and are often severe, frequently requiring surgical intervention. Wrist guard use has been shown to reduce the risk of wrist and forearm injuries by between 52 and 87 %. Uptake of wrist guards and snowboarder's attitudes towards them remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine wrist guard uptake amongst snowboarders as well as attitudes towards wrist guards. Cross-sectional study of snowboarders was used. A total of 200 snowboarders at the Whistler/Blackcombe Ski Resort in British Columbia, Canada, were selected randomly and asked to complete a questionnaire on wrist guard use. A response rate of 85 % yielded 170 completed questionnaires. The mean age of participants was 28. Only 25 % of subjects used wrist guards at the time of the survey. Of those questioned, 35 % had used wrist guards at least once, and 69 % of subjects used a helmet. Snowboarders aged over 30 and helmet users were significantly more likely to use wrist guards. There was no correlation between wrist guard use and gender, nationality, previous wrist injury or level of snowboarding experience. The most commonly cited reasons for not using wrist guards were discomfort, difficulty fitting guards under gloves and a fear of more significant injuries. Of participants, 76 % said that they would wear wrist guards if provided with strong evidence of injury risk reduction. Wrist guard uptake amongst snowboarders remains poor, and snowboarders are not well informed about the importance of wrist protectors to their sport. The growing body of evidence for wrist guard use should be accompanied by information campaigns targeted at snowboarders.