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A profile of horse riding injuries in adult horse riders registered with the Kwa Zulu Natal Horse Society

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Introduction:
Equestrian sport as a competitive sport first began in 1868 at the Royal Dublin Horse
Show 1. Injuries, especially minor injuries, are seldom reported, and there are no
regulatory requirements anywhere that compel formal injury notification of this sport 2.
Objectives:
The objectives were to describe a profile of horse riding injuries, to determine the
association between the type of equestrian activity and location and mechanism of
injury, the association between use and type of equipment and location of injury and to
determine anthropometric and history variables associated with location of horse riding
injuries. As well as determining if non riding related injuries were associated with riding
related injuries in the same sites.
Therefore, for the purpose of this study, the following information was gathered in order
to build up an injury profile:
Anthropometric values (age, height, weight, gender, ethnicity, dominant hand and
medical aid) of competitive horse riders in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
The participants horse riding history,
Their record of any past or current injuries,
Factors associated with previous and current injuries were also investigated,
Equipment and facilities used
Methods:
This study was a quantitative descriptive design, which was questionnaire based and
was administered by the researcher at various competitions in KwaZulu Natal or sent via
email to those not present at the competitions.
The study was limited to adult members of the KwaZulu Natal Horse Society that
competed in on the Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing.
iv
Results:
There were 176 respondents to the study. The average age was 36.3 years. The vast
majority of participants were White (99.4%) females (81%). The overall prevalence of
injury was 90.3%. Muscle strains were the most common type of injury. The head was
the most commonly injured site (46.4%), the lower back was the site most likely to be
injured many times. Forceful falls were ranked as the most severe type of injury
mechanism. Most injuries occurred whilst jumping (63.8%). Use of protective equipment
was associated with injury prevention and protection.
Muscle strains due to riding were significantly less common in those who presently did
regular exercise. Having no medical problems was associated with not having any riding
injuries. There was no significant association between riding and non riding related
injuries.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:ir.dut.ac.za:10321/537
Date January 2010
CreatorsCatlin, Jo-Anne Carrie
ContributorsHaswell, Garrick
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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