Common Motorcycle Injuries and Prevention Tips

Common Motorcycle Injuries

Sprained knee and leg fractures

• A blow to the outside of the knee
• A contraction of the thigh muscle when a sudden change in direction occurs
• Injured when landing from a jump onto a bent knee
• Landing on a knee that is hyper-extended

Broken ankle

• Caused by colliding with another bike/car or a hit by the rider's own bike
• Can also be caused by an awkward landing

Spinal cord injuries

• Most motocross back injuries are to the cervical spine
• A blow hard enough can result in paralysis or death

Broken wrists

• Most common broken bone (fractures) for riders
• Caused by a fall on an outstretched hand

Broken collarbone

• Most frequently broken bone for boys
• Caused by a fail from the bike resulting in direct impact on the collar bone
• Or by landing on an outstretched arm

Sprained shoulder complex (joint)

• Caused by failing to either the tip of the shoulder or onto an outstretched hand
• Sudden stops can throw the rider over the handlebars and onto should tips

Concussion

• Roughly 30% of the injuries sustained in motocross are concussions
• Caused by a blow to the head

Preventive Tips

Preventing sprained knee and leg fractures

• Learn a proper dismount
• Let past ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries heal before riding again. Every time the ACL is injured it becomes weaker

Preventing broken ankle

• Avoid tricky dismount if you are uncertain of falling properly
• Roll when you land instead of trying to land on your feet
• Practice dismounts at slower speeds to get them right (preferably with your friend's bike)

Preventing spinal cord injuries

• Familiarize yourself with the track or road
• Try to roll if you fall

Preventing wrist injury

• Learn how to fall. Truck your arms across your chest and roll

Preventing broken collarbone

• 50% of injuries happen at bends in the track so be super aware when cornering
• Try to anticipate your obstacles

Preventing shoulder injuries

• Keep your shoulders strong to keep the elbows-up posture in riding
• Stretching and strength-building will help protect your shoulder complex

Preventing concussion

• Full recovery from a motocross concussion before returning to racing is essential
• "Seven days" is the average time period for recovery
• Balance problems usually disappear in 7-14 days
• 75% of repeated concussions happen within seven days of original injury; 92% within 10 days
• Fatalities from inter-cranial bleeding happen when concussion symptoms persist unchecked or the rider returns to play too early
• Never return to play the same day as suffering a concussion - rapid brain swelling and herniation caused by a 2nd concussion is fatal in 50% of cases and can cause severe brain damage in survivors

You might like :
10 Tips To Secure Your Mobile Gadgets
Easy steps to properly fit a bicycle helmet : www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/easystepsweb
Source : the-hard-knocks-of-riding-motocross