Preliminary Investigation of Injury Patterns and Preventive Behaviors Among Japanese Skateboarders: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Authors

Naoyuki Hayakawa, Koki Hashimoto, Rie Nakazawa, Tsuyoshi Tajika

Published in

Cureus. Volume 18. Issue 10. Pages e117290. Epub Oct 01, 2026.

Abstract

The popularity of skateboarding has surged in Japan following recent Olympic successes, yet comprehensive investigations into the injury patterns of Japanese skateboarders remain extremely limited. The aim of this study is to clarify the injury patterns among Japanese skateboarders and investigate their associations with competitive levels, lifestyle habits, and personality traits.
A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 65 skateboarders (recreational, n = 45; competitive, n = 20). We assessed basic attributes, injuries over the past 12 months, sporting habits, and personality traits using the Japanese Big Five Scale. Injury incidence was estimated per 1,000 exposure hours (eh).
The competitive group was significantly younger, more experienced, and practiced more frequently than the recreational group (p < 0.05). Although injury prevalence was higher in the competitive group (65.0% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.060), the estimated injury incidence was higher in the recreational group (2.42 vs. 1.23/1,000 eh). After adjusting for previous sports experience using the Mantel-Haenszel method, the competitive group showed significantly higher odds of injury (pooled odds ratio (OR) = 2.68). Sprains were the most common injury type (50.9% recreational; 42.8% competitive), predominantly affecting the ankle (45.3% recreational; 47.6% competitive). Competitive skaters primarily visited hospitals (61.5%), whereas recreational skaters favored bonesetter clinics (41.1%, p = 0.029). The competitive group implemented significantly more preventive behaviors, such as warm-ups and protective gear use (p < 0.01). Conscientiousness was the most predominant personality trait in both groups; however, no significant association with injury history was observed.
Japanese skateboarders in this preliminary study primarily sustained lower limb sprains, particularly involving the ankle. While initial analysis adjusted for prior sports experience indicated a 2.68-fold higher odds of injury among competitive skaters, the small sample size precluded adjustments for critical demographic factors, such as age and sex, which could significantly alter these outcomes. Therefore, larger-scale studies with balanced demographic representation are necessary to draw definitive conclusions and develop robust, level-tailored injury prevention strategies.

PMID:
42967128
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 01 Nov 2026.

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