Rodeo Injuries

Rodeo Injuries

When you think of intense, rough, adrenaline driven sports, most people think football or  UFC. I personally consider rodeo when I think of sports with these characteristics. Rodeo has so many different events thus opening the door  for so many possible injuries. An image exists in the public's eye of thrill-seeking individuals with unyielding determination, resilience and an ephemeral response to pain.1 Injury can be incurred while on the animal, whether it is a t bull or bronc, or during the dismount. The dismount can be voluntary (once the mandatory 8 seconds have elapsed) or involuntary (by being thrown off). Injuries incurred while on the animal may include elbow, wrist, and hand injuries, such as those documented radiographically (Meyers et al). Pelvic. Injuries  such as pubic diastasis may occur through a wedge effect of the animals back during bucking and concussions s may occur during the ride through a whiplash effect or impact against a horse’s hip or a bull’s head. The rider may also be slammed against the chute gate or the arena rails. Injuries that occur once the athlete is thrown or dismounts may affect various body parts and usually involve moderate to high energy. Stomping and goring injuries after the dismount produce a mechanism for very violent and occasionally fatal injury.2

Injury percentage per Rodeo event: 2

1. Bull Riding: 49.8%
2. Bareback Riding: 22.8%
3. Saddle Bronc Riding: 15.6%
4. Steer Wrestling: 8.0%
5. Calf Roping: 2.7%
6. Team Roping: 1.1%

References:

1. Meyers, M. C., & Laurent, J. M. (2010). The Rodeo Athlete: Injuries -- Part II. Sports Medicine, 40(10), 817-839.
2. Downey, D. J. (2007). Rodeo Injuries and Prevention. Current Sports Medicine Reports (American College Of Sports Medicine), 6(5), 328-332.