Abstract

This article provides an overview of the literature on riding injuries. It deals with the incidence, the location, the mechanisms and the severity of the injuries. Riding injuries tend to draw attention not for the magnitude of the incidence figure but rather for the severity of the injuries. The typical riding accident appears to be a fall from a horse resulting in a fracture of the shoulder, upper arm or wrist. Unlike other sport injuries, riding injuries usually are located at the upper extremity. The majority of the injured riders are young women. Most riding injuries are described in case studies. In order to quantify the most prominent risk factors properly, experimental and non-experimental epidemiological studies are indicated. An effective prevention of riding injuries ideally should be based on a sound knowledge of the etiology originating from the application of these study designs. Verf.-Referat