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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Athl Train / Epidemiology of Injury Due to Race-Day Jockey Falls in Profe...
Journal of athletic training2017; 52(12); 1140-1146; doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-52.12.17

Epidemiology of Injury Due to Race-Day Jockey Falls in Professional Flat and Jump Horse Racing in Ireland, 2011-2015.

Abstract:   Professional horse racing is considered a high-risk sport, yet the last analysis of fall and injury incidence in this sport in Ireland was completed between 1999 and 2006. Objective:   To provide an updated analysis of the fall and injury incidence in professional flat and jump horse racing in Ireland from 2011 through 2015, compare it with the previous analysis, and detail the specific types and locations of injuries. Methods:   Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods:   A medical doctor recorded all injuries that occurred at every official flat and jump race meeting for the 2011 through 2015 seasons using standardized injury-report forms. Methods:   Injury and fall rates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported for flat and jump racing. Incidence rate ratios and 95% CIs were calculated between flat and jump racing, between the 1999-2006 analysis and the current results, and between 2011 and 2015. The distribution of injuries for type and location of injury was reported. Results:   Compared with flat racing, jump racing had significantly more falls per 1000 rides (49.5 versus 3.8), injuries per 1000 rides (10.1 versus 1.4), and injuries per 1000 meetings (776.0 versus 94.1). However, the rate of injuries per 1000 falls was significantly higher in flat racing (352.8 versus 203.8). An increase in injuries per 1000 falls between 2011 and 2015 was found in flat racing ( P = .005). Since the previous analysis, a significant increase in injuries per 1000 rides and falls was noted in jump racing. Soft tissue injuries were predominant in flat and jump racing (61.54% and 68.80%, respectively), with fractures the second most common injury (15.38% and 18.06%, respectively). Concussions were more prevalent from flat-racing falls (incidence rate ratio = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.15, 0.61). The lower limb was the most frequent location of injury (32.89%) in flat racing; however, in jump racing, upper limb injuries (34.97%) were predominant. Conclusions:   An update on professional flat- and jump-racing fall and injury epidemiology is provided. Further research to identify risk factors for injury, design and investigate the feasibility of injury-prevention strategies, and document their effects on fall and injury incidence is required.
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Publication Date: 2017-11-20 PubMed ID: 29154693PubMed Central: PMC5759697DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-52.12.17Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focused on providing updated information regarding the incidence of falls and injuries in professional flat and jump horse racing in Ireland over the period of 2011 to 2015, with added emphasis on specifying types and locations of injuries. The study points to an increased injury rate in jump racing compared to flat racing and suggests the importance of further investigating injury-prevention strategies.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted this study by using a descriptive epidemiology method.
  • A medical doctor recorded all injuries during the official flat and jump race meetings for the 2011 to 2015 seasons.
  • The injury-report forms standardized across all these events were used for maintaining consistency.
  • The rates of injuries and falls and their 95% confidence intervals were reported separately for flat and jump racing.
  • The team calculated incidence rate ratios between flat and jump racing, between the 1999-2006 analysis and the current results, and between 2011 and 2015.
  • The distribution of injuries according to type and location was also reported.

Results

  • The results of this study revealed that jump racing had significantly more falls and injuries per 1000 rides as well as per 1000 meetings than flat racing.
  • The rate of injuries per 1000 falls was significantly higher in flat racing.
  • A significant increase in injuries per 1000 falls was detected in flat racing between 2011 and 2015.
  • Since the last analysis, a significant increase in injuries per 1000 rides and falls in jump racing was noted.
  • The most common type of injury was soft tissue injuries in both flat and jump racing, followed by fractures.
  • More incidences of concussions were noted from flat-racing falls.
  • The lower limb was the most common location of injury in flat racing, while in jump racing, most injuries were in the upper limb.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes with an updated analysis of fall and injury incidences in professional flat and jump horse racing in Ireland from 2011 through 2015.
  • It highlights the increased risk of injury, especially in jump racing which underscores the need for additional research.
  • Future research should focus on identifying risk factors for injuries and designing feasible injury-prevention strategies.
  • The research also recommends documenting the effects of these strategies on fall and injury incidence, aiming to improve safety in horse racing.

Cite This Article

APA
O'Connor S, Warrington G, McGoldrick A, Cullen S. (2017). Epidemiology of Injury Due to Race-Day Jockey Falls in Professional Flat and Jump Horse Racing in Ireland, 2011-2015. J Athl Train, 52(12), 1140-1146. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-52.12.17

Publication

Journal of athletic training
ISSN: 1938-162X
NlmUniqueID: 9301647
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 12
Pages: 1140-1146

Researcher Affiliations

O'Connor, Siobhan
  • School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Ireland.
Warrington, Giles
  • Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Ireland.
McGoldrick, Adrian
  • The Turf Club, The Curragh, Kildare, Ireland.
Cullen, SarahJane
  • Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland.

MeSH Terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data
  • Animals
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Sports / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult

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