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A practical, science-based analysis for surfers of all levels<\/strong><\/p>\n Surfing is more than a sport - it's a passion, a lifestyle. However, like any intense physical activity in contact with nature, it also carries risks. This article is a complete guide to the most common surfing injuries, their risk factors and, above all, how physiotherapy can help with prevention, recovery and a safe return to the sea.<\/p>\n Let's start by distinguishing between three types of surfer. The frequency and severity of surfing injuries vary according to the level of the surfer:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Below are the most common types of injuries among surfers, with their causes, locations and recommended care.<\/p>\n Lacerations represent the most common traumatic injury in surfing<\/strong> and occur mainly through contact with parts of the board itself - such as the fins, nose and edges - or with the seabed. Wipe-outs, collisions with other surfers or impacts in shallow water significantly increase the risk.<\/p>\n Deep cuts are especially common on beaches with coral or rocky bottoms. Although many of these injuries are not serious from a functional point of view, they require immediate care, such as proper cleaning, haemorrhage control and, in some cases, suturing. Prevention involves the use of flexible fins, boards with rounded edges and respect for the practitioner's technical level in relation to the sea conditions.<\/p>\n Contusions are injuries caused by direct impact and are very common in surfing, especially in rough seas. They occur when the body collides with the board, another surfer or the seabed. Although they are most often classed as minor, their frequency is high, accounting for between 14% and 29% of injuries in some surfer populations.<\/p>\n The lower limbs are the most affected, especially the legs and knees, as they are in direct contact with the board during falls. However, the arms, back and even the chest can also suffer bruising - especially when losing control of the board or wipe-outs in heavy waves. Although many of these injuries improve with rest and ice, deep bruising, persistent pain and loss of mobility can occur, requiring professional assessment.<\/p>\n Ankle sprains are among the most frequent injuries in surfing - especially in disciplines that involve aerial manoeuvres or unstable landings. When the surfer returns to the board after a jump, the poorly distributed impact can generate a forced rotation of the foot, often in excessive dorsiflexion (elevated toe), resulting in high syndesmosis sprains<\/strong> - a more serious type of injury and slower to recover.<\/p>\n This type of sprain is often overlooked in the early stages, which can lead to chronic instability. The stiffness of the board and poor impact absorption technique contribute to the risk. In more severe cases, the ankle may show persistent swelling and functional limitation, requiring specialised physiotherapy.<\/p>\n We talk more about sprains in Ankle Sprain: Symptoms, Treatment (What to do in the first 24 hours) and How to Prevent Recurrences<\/a><\/p>\n Knee injuries are common in surfing due to the biomechanics involved in manoeuvres, changes of direction and falls. A typical scenario is when one leg slips off the board while the other remains fixed - causing an intense twisting force on the joint. This rotational movement places excessive stress on the medial collateral ligament (MCL)<\/strong>often the most affected.<\/p>\n The knee, designed for flexion and extension, also undergoes lateral displacements under extreme loads. This is evident when the surfer uses the back leg to manoeuvre, applying angular force to the knee. The injury known as \"surfer's knee\"<\/strong> can evolve from mild pain to a more serious condition if not treated in good time.<\/p>\n Shoulder dislocations are one of the most feared injuries among surfers - especially young, male surfers. This injury occurs when the glenohumeral joint moves, usually forwards (anterior dislocation), out of its anatomical position.<\/p>\n In surfing, the most common causes include violent falls with the arm in an extreme position<\/strong>The risk of a wipe-out, such as wipe-outs on big waves, or when the surfer is thrown by the water while holding the board. Impact with the board or the bottom aggravates the risk.<\/p>\n To repetitive rowing<\/strong> also contributes to shoulder instability, especially with muscle imbalances between the internal and external rotators. The recurrence rate exceeds 90% if there is no adequate treatment.<\/p>\n Recovery involves intensive physiotherapy and, in more serious cases, surgery. The rehabilitation plan includes strengthening exercises, stability training, biomechanical correction and functional assessment<\/strong> before returning to sea.<\/p>\n Fractures are less common, but potentially serious. They occur in high-energy collisions with the board, other surfers or the seabed. The most affected areas are the face, head and upper limbs. Despite the low hospitalisation rate (less than 4%), they require urgent medical attention and may require surgery, immobilisation and prolonged physiotherapy.<\/p>\n We've also talked more about fractures on our blog: Ankle Fracture: Learn to Identify, Treat and Prevent This Frequent and Painful Injury!<\/a><\/p>\n Muscle injuries in surfing are mainly caused by repetitive strain or explosive movements. They account for around 12.5% of injuries, mainly affecting the lower back, shoulders and neck. Prolonged paddling and muscle imbalances are significant risk factors.<\/p>\n Lumbar sprains are common in surfers who keep their torso elevated without a strengthened core. Excessive paddling can cause injuries to the rotator cuff muscles. Prevention involves functional training, muscle balance and proper technique.<\/p>\n Chronic injuries develop over time due to repetitive overload and lack of rest. They are common among regular surfers, affecting the back, shoulders and neck.<\/p>\n For example \"surfer's shoulder\"<\/strong> can start with mild pain and develop into severe tendinopathy. Recurrent low back pain affects performance and posture. Physiotherapy is essential for postural correction, strengthening and movement re-education.<\/p>\n This injury results from overloading the rotator cuff - a group of muscles that stabilise the shoulder. Repeating the rowing movement without compensating with strength and stretching exercises leads to micro-injuries, pain and eventually tendon rupture.<\/p>\n More than 68% of shoulder injuries among surfers are chronic, associated with paddling without compensatory training.<\/p>\n The paddling position - with the lumbar spine in constant extension - is the main cause of lower back pain when surfing. Shortened hip flexors, abdominal weakness and poor posture aggravate the situation.<\/p>\n If left untreated, they can develop into herniated discs or chronic low back pain. Physiotherapy corrects postural imbalances and prevents worsening. Find out more here : Low back pain affects 80% of the population<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The need to keep the head elevated while rowing causes overload in the cervical muscles and facet joints. This can cause pain at the base of the skull, stiffness and radiating pain.<\/p>\n The treatment involves muscle release, strengthening and correcting the paddling technique. Osteopathy is very helpful in these cases: Neck Pain and Cervicalgia: When the Neck Calls for Help and Osteopathy Responds<\/a><\/p>\n Prevention is essential to keep your body healthy in the water. It's not just about stretching before surfing - it includes physical preparation, body awareness, technique and the right equipment.<\/p>\n Before entering the sea<\/strong>A good warm-up (15 to 20 minutes) is essential, as it activates the muscles and improves mobility. Out of the water, training should include strengthening the core, shoulders, knees and ankles, as well as balance and proprioception exercises.<\/p>\n In technique<\/strong>Knowing how to land correctly, avoiding forced landings and improving positioning on the board reduces joint impact. Surfers must respect their own limits and be aware of the sea conditions.<\/p>\n Equipment<\/strong>The use of protected fins, a suitable leash and well-maintained boards reduces the risk of cuts and collisions.<\/p>\n Physiotherapy in surfing isn't limited to treating injuries - it's a tool for performance, prevention and rehabilitation<\/strong>This allows surfers to stay healthy, technical and competitive.<\/p>\n Surfing injuries<\/a><\/em> <\/p>\n A practical, science-based analysis for surfers of all levels Surfing is more than a sport - it's a passion, a lifestyle. However, like any intense physical activity in contact with nature, it also carries risks. This article is a complete guide to the most common...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,9,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fisioterapia","category-osteopatia","category-reabilitacao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1494"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1502,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1494\/revisions\/1502"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osteosalvador.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. Profile of Surfers: Who Is Most Susceptible to Injury?<\/h2>\n
\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 Recreational Surfer<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 Amateur Surfer<\/h3>\n
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\ud83c\udfc4\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Professional Surfer<\/h3>\n
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2. Surf injuries<\/h2>\n
\ud83d\udd2a 2.1 Lacerations and cuts<\/h3>\n
\ud83e\udd15 2.2 Bruises<\/h3>\n
2.3 Ankle sprains<\/h3>\n
2.4 Knee sprains<\/h3>\n
2.5 Shoulder dislocations<\/h3>\n
\ud83e\ude7b 2.6 Fractures<\/h3>\n
2.7 Muscle injuries<\/h3>\n
\ud83e\uddec 2.8 Gradual Onset Lesions (Chronic)<\/h3>\n
2.9 Surfer's Shoulder (Rotator Cuff Injury)<\/h3>\n
\ud83e\udde0 2.10 Low back pain<\/h3>\n
2.11 Neck pain<\/h3>\n
\ud83e\udded 3. Prevention Strategies: Smart Surfer, Resilient Body<\/h2>\n
\ud83e\ude7a 4. Physiotherapy in Surfing: Beyond Recovery<\/h2>\n
\u2714\ufe0f In Prevention:<\/h3>\n
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Treatment:<\/h3>\n
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\ud83c\udfc4\u200d\u2642\ufe0f On the Return to Surfing:<\/h3>\n
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<\/h2>\n
Bibliographical references<\/h2>\n
\nInjuries to professional surfers <\/a><\/em>
\nAnalysing the prevalence of injuries in surfers on the coast of Paran\u00e1 <\/a><\/em>
\nSHOULDER INJURY IN SURFING: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS<\/a><\/em>
\nChronic and Gradual-Onset Injuries and Conditions in the Sport of Surfing: A Systematic Review\u00a0<\/a><\/em>
\nSurf injuries<\/a><\/em>
\nPrevalence of sport surfing-related injuries - A cross-sectional study of the Portuguese surfing teachers<\/a><\/em>
\nThe Surfer's Shoulder: A Systematic Review of Current Literature and Potential Pathophysiological Explanations of Chronic Shoulder Complaints in Wave Surfers<\/a><\/em>
\nCompetitive Surfing Injuries: A Prospective Study of Surfing-Related Injuries Among Contest Surfers <\/a><\/em>
\nAn investigation of surf injury prevalence in Australian surfers: A self-reported retrospective analysis.<\/a><\/em>
\nChronic and Gradual-Onset Injuries and Conditions in the Sport of Surfing: A Systematic Review<\/a><\/em>
\nInjury Prevention in The Sport of Surfing: An Update\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"