Rodeo docs hope to lasso recognition.

Rodeo health professionals gathered to discuss treatment and prevention of rodeo-related injuries. The event also aimed at fostering collaborative research, developing guidelines for managing concussions in rodeo, and designing better protective gear using real-time injury data.

Healthcare professionals convention for rodeo injuries

• Around 70 rodeo healthcare professionals met in Calgary with the aim to share ideas and discuss effective ways to prevent and treat injuries specific to rodeo events.
• The aim of the gathering was also envisioned as a foundation stone for initiating collaborative research endeavors to maximize the benefits arising from limited funding.

Head injury management and protective gear design

• During the convention, the attendees strived to agree on a consensus about managing concussions, one of the common injuries in rodeo events.
• They recommended not allowing cowboys on bulls after enduring a head injury.
• The participants aspire to further develop a platform to collect real-time data from injuries caused by bull stomping and other related incidents.
• They believed that such data can play a pivotal role in designing more effective and efficient protective gears for the players.

Unique and serious nature of rodeo injuries

• The injuries that arise from rodeo events are unique and range from sprained ankles to ruptured tendons.
• As the forces exerted by bulls in rodeos are completely different from humans, the injuries sustained are quite distinct from regular playing fields.
• Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Laurie Hiemstra expressed that the cowboys who participate in rodeos are incredibly tough, and if they complain about pain, it definitely indicates severe agony.

Professional Rodeo Sports Medicine Team

• The Canadian Pro Rodeo Sports Medicine Team consists of 35 members including certified athletic therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors and sports medicine physicians.
• This team attends the 19 largest professional rodeo events to provide medical aid.

About professional rodeo injuries

• Team president Dale Butterwick conducted a 5-year analysis of professional rodeo injuries.
• The analysis showcased that bull riding and bareback riding events had the most injuries.
• 30% of these injuries were serious including fractures, ruptures, dislocations and concussions.
• Contrary to previous studies, concussions alone constituted 8.6% of all reported injuries.