FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Orthop J Sports Med / Orthopaedic Injuries in Equestrian Sports: A Current Concept...
Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine2015; 3(9); 2325967115603924; doi: 10.1177/2325967115603924

Orthopaedic Injuries in Equestrian Sports: A Current Concepts Review.

Abstract: Despite the common nature of orthopaedic injuries in equestrian sports, there is no published review to specifically characterize orthopaedic injuries in equestrian athletes. Objective: To characterize orthopaedic injury patterns in equine sports-related injuries and their treatment. Methods: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This review was performed through a PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus query (from 1978 to June 2014) in the English literature using search terms "(equine-related OR equestrian-related OR horse-related OR equestrian OR equestrians) AND (injury OR injuries)." Only full-text studies reporting on orthopaedic injury patterns pertinent to equestrian sports in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) were included. Orthopaedic injuries were defined as those resulting in a fracture or dislocation. In all, 182 studies were excluded, leaving a total of 27 studies for evaluation. The studies included were analyzed for demographic and epidemiological data for orthopaedic injuries, including fractures and dislocations. Cranial and facial injuries were excluded from analysis. Results: The majority of those injured in the US were female (64.5%). The leading cause of injury in the US was falling from a horse. The use of protective equipment seemed to vary widely, with helmet use ranging from less than 6% up to 66.7%. In the UK, fractures were found to account for 17.4% of reported injures, compared with 33.6% of injuries in the US. The majority of fractures in US riders occurred in the upper extremities (50.7%). Conclusions: This review helps characterize the epidemiology of equestrian injuries based on currently available data.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2015-09-21 PubMed ID: 26535400PubMed Central: PMC4622299DOI: 10.1177/2325967115603924Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 paper provides an overview of orthopaedic injuries in equestrian sports, focusing on their patterns, causes, and treatment. Through a systematic review of studies, the paper sheds light on the prevalence of such injuries, accompanied by analysis of demographic and epidemiological factors.

Objectives and Methods of the research

  • The primary objective of this research was to understand and categorize the various orthopaedic injuries that occur in relation to equestrian sports. It aimed to provide a thorough analysis of the injuries and their treatments based on pre-existing data.
  • A systematic review was conducted using search queries on PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus. Studies that specifically reported on orthopaedic injury patterns related to equestrian sports, available in English and conducted from 1978 to June 2014, were considered.
  • The focus was on injuries resulting in fractures or dislocations, with cranial and facial injuries excluded from the review. Studies were narrowed down to those conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Results of the research

  • The analysis revealed that the majority of equestrian injuries occurred in the US and most of the injured were females (64.5%).
  • Falling from a horse was identified as the most common cause of injuries.
  • The rate of usage of protective equipment, such as helmets, varied significantly. The use of helmets ranged from less than 6% to 66.7% among equestrian participants.
  • In the UK, fractures were found to account for 17.4% of reported injuries, contrasting with the US where fractures represented 33.6% of reported injuries.
  • The upper extremities of the body (arms, wrists, and hands) were most prone to fractures in US riders, accounting for 50.7% of incidents.

Conclusion of the research

  • This systematic review offers an understanding of the epidemiology of equestrian injuries. It provides a foundation for further research to help in developing strategies to prevent such injuries and improve treatments.

Cite This Article

APA
Young JD, Gelbs JC, Zhu DS, Gallacher SE, Sutton KM, Blaine TA. (2015). Orthopaedic Injuries in Equestrian Sports: A Current Concepts Review. Orthop J Sports Med, 3(9), 2325967115603924. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967115603924

Publication

Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine
ISSN: 2325-9671
NlmUniqueID: 101620522
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 3
Issue: 9
Pages: 2325967115603924
PII: 2325967115603924

Researcher Affiliations

Young, Jason David
  • Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Gelbs, Jared Craig
  • Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Zhu, David Shiyu
  • Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Gallacher, Stacey Elisa
  • Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Sutton, Karen Michelle
  • Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Blaine, Theodore Alton
  • Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution.

References

This article includes 34 references
  1. Ball CG, Ball JE, Kirkpatrick AW, Mulloy RH. Equestrian injuries: incidence, injury patterns, and risk factors for 10 years of major traumatic injuries.. Am J Surg 2007 May;193(5):636-40.
    pubmed: 17434372doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.01.016google scholar: lookup
  2. Barone GW, Rodgers BM. Pediatric equestrian injuries: a 14-year review.. J Trauma 1989 Feb;29(2):245-7.
    pubmed: 2918566
  3. Bernhang AM, Winslett G. Equestrian Injuries.. Phys Sportsmed 1983 Jan;11(1):90-7.
    pubmed: 27409268doi: 10.1080/00913847.1983.11708437google scholar: lookup
  4. Bixby-Hammett DM. Pediatric equestrian injuries.. Pediatrics 1992 Jun;89(6 Pt 2):1173-6.
    pubmed: 1594372
  5. Bixby-Hammett DM. Horse-related injuries and deaths in North Carolina, 1995-1999.. N C Med J 2006 Mar-Apr;67(2):161-2.
    pubmed: 16752724
  6. Bond GR, Christoph RA, Rodgers BM. Pediatric equestrian injuries: assessing the impact of helmet use.. Pediatrics 1995 Apr;95(4):487-9.
    pubmed: 7700745
  7. Carmichael SP 2nd, Davenport DL, Kearney PA, Bernard AC. On and off the horse: mechanisms and patterns of injury in mounted and unmounted equestrians.. Injury 2014 Sep;45(9):1479-83.
    pmc: PMC4125461pubmed: 24767580doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2014.03.016google scholar: lookup
  8. Carrillo EH, Varnagy D, Bragg SM, Levy J, Riordan K. Traumatic injuries associated with horseback riding.. Scand J Surg 2007;96(1):79-82.
    pubmed: 17461318doi: 10.1177/145749690709600115google scholar: lookup
  9. Ceroni D, De Rosa V, De Coulon G, Kaelin A. The importance of proper shoe gear and safety stirrups in the prevention of equestrian foot injuries.. J Foot Ankle Surg 2007 Jan-Feb;46(1):32-9.
    pubmed: 17198951doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2006.10.010google scholar: lookup
  10. Chitnavis JP, Gibbons CL, Hirigoyen M, Lloyd Parry J, Simpson AH. Accidents with horses: what has changed in 20 years?. Injury 1996 Mar;27(2):103-5.
    pubmed: 8730383doi: 10.1016/0020-1383(95)00176-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  11. Clarke CN, Tsuei BJ, Butler KL. Equine-related injury: a retrospective analysis of outcomes over a 10-year period.. Am J Surg 2008 May;195(5):702-4.
    pubmed: 18424291doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.11.007google scholar: lookup
  12. Costa-Paz M, Aponte-Tinao L, Muscolo DL. Injuries to polo riders: a prospective evaluation.. Br J Sports Med 1999 Oct;33(5):329-31; discussion 331-2.
    pmc: PMC1756206pubmed: 10522635doi: 10.1136/bjsm.33.5.329google scholar: lookup
  13. Cuenca AG, Wiggins A, Chen MK, Kays DW, Islam S, Beierle EA. Equestrian injuries in children.. J Pediatr Surg 2009 Jan;44(1):148-50.
    pubmed: 19159733doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2008.10.025google scholar: lookup
  14. Fox SE, Ridgway EB, Slavin SA, Upton J 3rd, Lee BT. Equestrian-related injuries: implications for treatment in plastic surgery.. Plast Reconstr Surg 2008 Sep;122(3):826-832.
    pubmed: 18766046doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318182372egoogle scholar: lookup
  15. Ghosh A, Di Scala C, Drew C, Lessin M, Feins N. Horse-related injuries in pediatric patients.. J Pediatr Surg 2000 Dec;35(12):1766-70.
    pubmed: 11101733doi: 10.1053/jpsu.2000.19247google scholar: lookup
  16. Griffen M, Boulanger BR, Kearney PA, Tsuei B, Ochoa J. Injury during contact with horses: recent experience with 75 patients at a level I trauma center.. South Med J 2002 Apr;95(4):441-5.
    pubmed: 11958244
  17. Grossman JA, Kulund DN, Miller CW, Winn HR, Hodge RH Jr. Equestrian injuries. Results of a prospective study.. JAMA 1978 Oct 20;240(17):1881-2.
    pubmed: 567702doi: 10.1001/jama.240.17.1881google scholar: lookup
  18. Hasler RM, Gyssler L, Benneker L, Martinolli L, Schötzau A, Zimmermann H, Exadaktylos AK. Protective and risk factors in amateur equestrians and description of injury patterns: A retrospective data analysis and a case - control survey.. J Trauma Manag Outcomes 2011 Feb 4;5:4.
    pmc: PMC3042925pubmed: 21294862doi: 10.1186/1752-2897-5-4google scholar: lookup
  19. Havlik HS. Equestrian sport-related injuries: a review of current literature.. Curr Sports Med Rep 2010 Sep-Oct;9(5):299-302.
    pubmed: 20827097doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181f32056google scholar: lookup
  20. Hobbs GD, Yealy DM, Rivas J. Equestrian injuries: a five-year review.. J Emerg Med 1994 Mar-Apr;12(2):143-5.
    pubmed: 8207147doi: 10.1016/0736-4679(94)90690-4google scholar: lookup
  21. Hughes KM, Falcone RE, Price J, Witkoff M. Equestrian-related trauma.. Am J Emerg Med 1995 Jul;13(4):485-7.
    pubmed: 7605543doi: 10.1016/0735-6757(95)90148-5google scholar: lookup
  22. Ingemarson H, Grevsten S, Thorén L. Lethal horse-riding injuries.. J Trauma 1989 Jan;29(1):25-30.
    pubmed: 2911099doi: 10.1097/00005373-198901000-00005google scholar: lookup
  23. Jagodzinski T, DeMuri GP. Horse-related injuries in children: a review.. WMJ 2005 Feb;104(2):50-4.
    pubmed: 15856743
  24. Loder RT. The demographics of equestrian-related injuries in the United States: injury patterns, orthopedic specific injuries, and avenues for injury prevention.. J Trauma 2008 Aug;65(2):447-60.
    pubmed: 18695484doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31817dac43google scholar: lookup
  25. Mayberry JC, Pearson TE, Wiger KJ, Diggs BS, Mullins RJ. Equestrian injury prevention efforts need more attention to novice riders.. J Trauma 2007 Mar;62(3):735-9.
    pubmed: 17414356doi: 10.1097/ta.0b013e318031b5d4google scholar: lookup
  26. McCrory P, Turner M. Equestrian injuries.. Med Sport Sci 2005;48:8-17.
    pubmed: 16247251doi: 10.1159/000084280google scholar: lookup
  27. Moss PS, Wan A, Whitlock MR. A changing pattern of injuries to horse riders.. Emerg Med J 2002 Sep;19(5):412-4.
    pmc: PMC1725957pubmed: 12204987doi: 10.1136/emj.19.5.412google scholar: lookup
  28. Newton AM, Nielsen AM. A review of horse-related injuries in a rural Colorado hospital: implications for outreach education.. J Emerg Nurs 2005 Oct;31(5):442-6.
    pubmed: 16198726doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2005.08.009google scholar: lookup
  29. Norwood S, McAuley C, Vallina VL, Fernandez LG, McLarty JW, Goodfried G. Mechanisms and patterns of injuries related to large animals.. J Trauma 2000 Apr;48(4):740-4.
    pubmed: 10780611doi: 10.1097/00005373-200004000-00025google scholar: lookup
  30. Press JM, Davis PD, Wiesner SL, Heinemann A, Semik P, Addison RG. The national jockey injury study: an analysis of injuries to professional horse-racing jockeys.. Clin J Sport Med 1995 Oct;5(4):236-40.
    pubmed: 7496848
  31. Sandiford N, Buckle C, Alao U, Davidson J, Ritchie J. Injuries associated with recreational horse riding and changes over the last 20 years: a review.. JRSM Short Rep 2013 May;4(5):2042533313476688.
    pmc: PMC3681230pubmed: 23772313doi: 10.1177/2042533313476688google scholar: lookup
  32. Thomas KE, Annest JL, Gilchrist J, Bixby-Hammett DM. Non-fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001-2003.. Br J Sports Med 2006 Jul;40(7):619-26.
    pmc: PMC2564310pubmed: 16611723doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.025858google scholar: lookup
  33. Turner M, McCrory P, Halley W. Injuries in professional horse racing in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland during 1992-2000.. Br J Sports Med 2002 Dec;36(6):403-9.
    pmc: PMC1724574pubmed: 12453834doi: 10.1136/bjsm.36.6.403google scholar: lookup
  34. Whitlock MR, Whitlock J, Johnston B. Equestrian injuries: a comparison of professional and amateur injuries in Berkshire.. Br J Sports Med 1987 Mar;21(1):25-6.
    pmc: PMC1478592pubmed: 3580723doi: 10.1136/bjsm.21.1.25google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Melo SNS, Ezekwesili A, Yurdi NA, Murrell WD, Maffulli N. Gold-Induced Cytokine (GOLDIC(®)) Injection Therapy in Patient with Plantar Fasciosis: A Case Report. Indian J Orthop 2020 May;54(3):348-351.
    doi: 10.1007/s43465-020-00089-4pubmed: 32399155google scholar: lookup
  2. Abdulkarim A, Juhdi A, Coffey P, Edelson L. Equestrian Injury Presentations to a Regional Trauma Centre in Ireland. Emerg Med Int 2018;2018:7394390.
    doi: 10.1155/2018/7394390pubmed: 29971165google scholar: lookup
  3. Weber CD, Nguyen AR, Lefering R, Hofman M, Hildebrand F, Pape HC. Blunt injuries related to equestrian sports: results from an international prospective trauma database analysis. Int Orthop 2017 Oct;41(10):2105-2112.
    doi: 10.1007/s00264-017-3592-1pubmed: 28801837google scholar: lookup
  4. Majeedkutty NA, Khairulanuar NA. Prevalence, patterns, and correlates of equestrian injuries in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study. J Family Community Med 2017 Jan-Apr;24(1):18-22.
    doi: 10.4103/2230-8229.197177pubmed: 28163571google scholar: lookup
  5. Boije Af Gennäs K, Jungmalm J. Youth horse-related injuries (2014-2024): a scoping review of epidemiological and disciplinary insights. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2025;11(3):e002589.
    doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002589pubmed: 40922806google scholar: lookup
  6. Havertz A, Uebis D, Schifflers R, Hildebrand F, Weber CD. Sports injury risk assessment based on a training and functional movement analysis of young elite equestrian athletes- an exploratory cross-sectional study. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2025 Apr 14;17(1):83.
    doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01138-xpubmed: 40229886google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.