Incidence and predictors of roller derby injuries among female roller derby athletes

ABSTRACT

Little is known about roller derby injuries. To describe the types of injuries that female roller derby athletes experience, quantify the incidence of injuries and examine the relationship between selected demographic variables and injuries. Women's roller derby leagues were contacted explaining the study and requesting participation. A second message was sent with the link to the electronic questionnaire to collect data from March to June 2015. Of the 1 395 respondents, 48.7% (679) reported having at least one injury in the previous 12 months. The skaters' average age was 32 and have played roller derby for four years. The most common injuries were to the ankles (22.5%), knees (21%) and head (11%). Of the head injuries, 75% were diagnosed with a concussion. This is the first study of woman's roller derby injuries. Understanding injuries that skaters incur may help leagues as they develop policies and specific injury prevention programmes.

KEYWORDS:

• Sports injuries
• injury prevention
• roller derby

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the roller derby leagues of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association for their support in completing this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

An award from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities programme supported Michael Luther, undergraduate research assistant, during the development of this study.