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Current sports medicine reports2020; 19(9); 373-379; doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000750

Medicine in the Sport of Horse Racing.

Abstract: Horseracing is among the most popular and increasingly lucrative industry sports in the nation. The average jockey must control a thoroughbred horse 10 times their weight that may act unpredictably whether at rest or full gallop resulting in falls, kicks, or even biting injuries. Despite the risks, jockeys do not have access to the same quality of medical care that is standard in similarly profitable sports organizations. Beyond the mental and physical demands of training and performance endured by any professional athlete, jockeys are confronted with health challenges unique to their sport. In this review of the literature, we aim to educate sports medicine physicians regarding the underlying causes of injuries, describe injury management, and make recommendations for appropriate preventive strategies. Overall, there is a void of literature, and so our authors offer expert opinion and encourage others to get involved in making this a safer sport.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-15 PubMed ID: 32925377DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000750Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article focuses on the unique health challenges faced by jockeys in horse racing and advocates for improved medical care within the industry, as currently available resources are found to be inadequate. The authors review related literature to identify injury causes and their management and propose preventive strategies.

Background

  • Horseracing is a popular sport with a growing financial footprint and unique medical needs for its participants.
  • This research determines these needs by reviewing literature, highlighting existing gaps, and proposing next steps.
  • The vulnerability of jockeys is underscored, as they have to control animals 10 times their weight, often behaving unpredictably, leading to high-risk situations.

Finding and Problems

  • Jockeys face significant physical and mental stress akin to professional athletes but lack access to commensurate quality of medical care found in other profitable sports organizations.
  • The risks for jockeys extend beyond common sports injuries to unique challenges, such as falls, kicks, or bites from the horses they ride.

Review of Literature

  • The research draws on existing literature to understand the underlying causes of common injuries jockeys experience, as well as their management.
  • The authors reveal a dearth of literature in this domain, signaling a need for more focused research.

Preventive Strategies and Recommendations

  • The paper moves a step ahead to propose preventive strategies based on the information gleaned from the literature review.
  • While acknowledging the limited resources available for comprehensive understanding, the authors rely on their expert opinion to develop preventive measures.

Conclusions and Call to Action

  • A significant medical oversight in the field of horseracing is unearthed. This neglect speaks to the under-addressed dangers facing jockeys and the lack of substantial medical resources for their unique risks.
  • The authors present a call to action, urging others to focus their expertise in enhancing the safety framework of this sport.

Cite This Article

APA
Ryan KD, Brodine J, Pothast J, McGoldrick A. (2020). Medicine in the Sport of Horse Racing. Curr Sports Med Rep, 19(9), 373-379. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000750

Publication

Current sports medicine reports
ISSN: 1537-8918
NlmUniqueID: 101134380
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 9
Pages: 373-379

Researcher Affiliations

Ryan, Kelly D
    Brodine, Joseph
      Pothast, Jason
        McGoldrick, Adrian
        • Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Ireland.

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Athletic Injuries / etiology
        • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
        • Horses
        • Humans
        • Occupational Injuries / etiology
        • Occupational Injuries / prevention & control
        • Sports Medicine / education

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 2 times.
        1. Stallones L, McManus P, McGreevy P. Sustainability and the Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industries: An Enhanced One Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 31;13(3).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13030490pubmed: 36766378google scholar: lookup
        2. Ryan K, Brodine J. Weight-Making Practices Among Jockeys: An Update and Review of the Emergent Scientific Literature. Open Access J Sports Med 2021;12:87-98.
          doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S235143pubmed: 34267562google scholar: lookup
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