Skateboarding is a blast, but let’s face it, injuries are part of the game. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie just finding your balance, slams happen. It’s important to know how to handle these common skateboarding injuries to ensure proper healing and get you back on your board as soon as possible. This guide covers some of the most frequent skate-related pains and offers advice on how to deal with them, helping you avoid long-term issues and get back to shredding.
While we’re not doctors (we did consult one!), this guide is for informational and entertainment purposes. Please don’t take it as a substitute for professional medical advice. If things go wrong, please don’t sue us. With that said, let’s dive into the common injuries you might face while skateboarding.
The Classic Shinner
What it is: The dreaded shin bite. This usually occurs when learning tricks like tre flips, where the board smacks your shin. The pain is instant, often followed by tears and a brief period of contemplating your life choices.
Severity Factor: 2/10. It’s more annoying than dangerous.
How to deal with it: Take a breather. Ice can help, but walking it off can also work. If it starts bruising and swelling badly, it’s a sign to call it a day. You could always turn into a filmer and get the crew on tape!
What to avoid: Friends who are laughing at you instead of helping.
Rehab: Stare them down with cold dead eyes.
Knocked-Out Tooth
What it is: Losing a tooth (or two) isn’t a pleasant experience. This isn’t a minor chip; we’re talking blood and enamel on the pavement.
Severity Factor: 3/10. You’ll survive, but it’s going to hurt a lot.
How to deal with it: Time is critical here. If you want to save the tooth, get to a dentist within an hour. If possible, carefully try to put the tooth back in place. If not, store it in your mouth or in a cup of your own saliva and take it with you to the dentist. It will take 4-8 weeks to reattach.
What to avoid: Stick to soft, warm foods for a while, and chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours, and refrain from smoking, which slows healing. Don’t brush the area for a week, and avoid using straws for 72 hours.
Rehab: Follow your dentist’s advice and be cautious with pain medication.
The Dreaded Rolled Ankle
What it is: Also known as a sprain, it’s when you twist your foot, straining ligaments in your ankle. It’s practically a rite of passage for skateboarders. If you can’t walk on it the next day, it might be broken. Early signs include bruising around the heel and swelling.
Severity Factor: 1/10. Usually not serious, but be careful.
How to deal with it: Ice it for 15-20 minutes every couple of hours for the first 24-48 hours. After icing, wrap it with a compression bandage for stability and support, which also reduces swelling.
What to avoid: Avoid heat for the first 72 hours, including hot baths, as heat encourages blood flow, increasing swelling. Also, don’t run or do anything active. Avoid alcohol as well, as it increases bleeding and swelling. Keep your foot iced and elevated.
Rehab: Once you can walk again, start with exercises like drawing the alphabet with your big toe to keep muscles active. Standing on your toes on a step can also help strengthen it.
Getting Sacked
What it is: We all know what it is. Let’s move on.
Severity Factor: 10/10 to be safe. Check yourself immediately. If you’re not bleeding, throwing up, or in excruciating pain, you may be okay. If not, get to the hospital.
How to deal with it: Surgery might be needed for severe cases. For a minor sack, some rest may be enough. You can ice the area if swelling occurs.
What to avoid: Getting kicked in the nuts by someone in steel-toed boots, seems like good advice in general.
Rehab: Ice for swelling, over-the-counter pain meds, and doctor’s orders. Try not to get sacked again.
The Serious Concussion
What it is: A traumatic brain injury caused by your head moving rapidly back and forth, potentially damaging brain cells. Symptoms include confusion, slowed thinking, memory problems, nausea, headaches, vision issues, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, balance problems, fatigue, and mood changes.
Severity Factor: 11/10. This can be fatal, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
How to deal with it: Rest is critical to heal your brain. See a doctor and follow their instructions. If someone might have a concussion, ask simple questions, check their eyes using a flashlight, and observe their mental/physical state. Call an ambulance if they have serious symptoms.
What to avoid: Alcohol, drugs, video games, computer use, and operating vehicles or machinery. Contrary to older advice, you need sleep to heal.
Rehab: Rest, relax, and seek help if you are confused.
A Broken Bone
What it is: It’s your bone, busted. It can be anything from a hairline fracture to a limb hanging off, and is accompanied by severe pain, and potentially shock. Get to an emergency room immediately.
Severity Factor: 5/10 to 10/10. Severity depends on the break, so don’t mess around.
How to deal with it: Hospital is essential to avoid improper healing, which can cause crooked limbs, arthritis, and infection. If they’re in shock, lay them down and elevate their legs (unless that’s the broken limb).
What to avoid: Removing your cast too early, even if you’re feeling better.
Rehab: After the cast, do physiotherapy to build muscle and consume calcium.
The Swellbow
What it is: Otherwise known as Olecranon Bursitis, it’s caused by impact on the elbow, leading to inflammation and fluid buildup, causing a nut sack-like lump.
Severity Factor: 1/10 to 7/10. It may resolve itself or get infected and require surgery.
How to deal with it: If it’s not broken or infected, just leave it alone or wear an elbow pad. A doctor might drain it but otherwise just relax.
What to avoid: Impacting it again.
Rehab: Relax and take ibuprofen. If it is broken, it’s surgery time.
Sore Joints
What it is: Sore knees and ankles are a common sign of age and wear from skating. It’s something all skaters experience eventually.
Severity Factor: 0/10. It’s a fact of life.
How to deal with it: Stretching, warming up, and light exercise can help, alongside a visit to a doctor or physiotherapist to see what is recommended for you.
What to avoid: Canvas shoes and other unsuitable footwear.
Rehab: Accept it as a skateboarder’s badge of honor.
Dislocation
What it is: When bones separate from their joint or socket. You’ll know instantly because the limb will be immobile. It’s painful and unpleasant.
Severity Factor: 5/10. It won’t kill you, but it’s going to be rough.
How to deal with it: While it is common for people to have it popped back in, see a doctor immediately. Do not move them if the dislocation is under the waist, but check blood circulation by pressing on the skin until it turns white, it should turn back to normal. If there’s no circulation call 911. If there’s ligament damage, brace it and heal for 6-12 weeks.
What to avoid: Lifting heavy objects or doing any activity that can further damage the limb.
Rehab: Small exercises to restore joint strength and range of motion slowly, without stress.
Road Rash
What it is: When you slide against the ground, causing scrapes anywhere on your body. It’s a sign you were going fast enough to warrant an injury.
Severity Factor: 1/10. It’s painful and will scab over in a few days.
How to deal with it: Clean it with mild soap and water, and gently remove any dirt. Apply a bandage and triple-antibiotic ointment. Change it daily, and soak the bandage in water if it’s stuck.
What to avoid: Getting dirt in it, which can lead to infection. Redness, swelling, heat, or pus mean you need to see a doctor.
Rehab: Get back on your board as soon as you can.
Deep Lacerations
What it is: A cut deep enough to need stitches or staples. If pressure for 10 minutes doesn’t stop the bleeding, get medical attention right away.
Severity Factor: 7/10. This needs to be treated to avoid infection or blood loss.
How to deal with it: Elevate the wound above your heart, apply pressure with a clean cloth, and do not remove any objects in the wound, since it could be plugging it.
What to avoid: Keep the area dry for 24-48 hours. Clean gently around the wound, do not touch the staples or stitches directly. Avoid physical activity until the doctor removes them. Keep dirt, mud, and sand out, and don’t go swimming.
Rehab: Use creams or ointments to speed up healing and minimize scars.
Conclusion
Skateboarding injuries are inevitable, but knowing how to deal with them can help you recover faster and get back on your board. Remember that this guide is not a substitute for medical advice, and it’s essential to seek professional help when needed. Stay safe, skate smart, and have fun!
Illustrations: Walker Miller
Words: Pat Maloney
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