Yoga-Related Injuries Presented in United States Emergency Departments

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of yoga-related injuries presenting to emergency departments in the US and to determine the rate of injury of adult yoga practitioners. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database for years 2004, 2008, and 2012 for yoga-related injuries. Body part injured and injury diagnosis were compared with gender and age categories using chi square tests of Independence or Fisher’s Exact test, based on expected cell counts (P<0.05). RESULTS: Overall, there were an estimated 6,443 yoga-related injuries in the three years sampled. Rates in yoga-related injuries have increased from 2004 to 2012. For females, these rates have changed significantly (r2=0.998, p=0.031). Overall, females were more likely to be diagnosed with a strain or sprain (p<0.001, OR=2.01, CI 1.75-2.31), and fracture (p=0.009, OR=1.98, CI=1.18-3.33) and also more likely to injure their upper extremity and head/neck region (Table 1). Overall, males were more likely to be diagnosed with a dislocation (p=0.001, OR=1.67, C=1.24-2.26) and more likely to injure their lower extremity and trunk region (Table 1). Overall participants less than 40 years old more likely to injure their head/neck region (p<0.001, OR=1.40, CI=1.23=1.58) but less likely to injure their trunk region. CONCLUSION: The number of yoga-related injuries reported in the emergency department is low; however, the rate of yoga-related injuries is increasing. As yoga practice continues to increase in popularity, continued surveillance of yoga-related injuries is necessary to assess potential risk factors.Table: No title available.