Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review posted a short article summarizing a study from The American Journal for Sports Medicine showing women were roughly 33% more likely to be hospitalized for biking injuries than men. The study analyzed roughly 200,000 injury reports from 1994 to 2007 and only looked at patients older than 8 years old.
According to the study, 6.1% of injured women were hospitalized compared to just 4.5% of men. Although it doesn’t sound like the report speculates why this might be the case, we reckon it might have something to do with macho guys waving off serious injuries that deserve medical attention. In fact we wouldn’t be surprised if the rate of injuries that should be treated in a hospital are actually higher for men than women since men tend to mountain bike more aggressively. Then again, maybe some women go to the hospital in cases when it’s not really necessary.
Aside from the main finding, several statistics from the report are actually pretty interesting. The study points out that upper extremity fractures are the most common injury in biking accidents (does the head count as an extremity?). In a bit of good news, the report shows the annual number of mountain bike-related injuries decreased a whopping 56% over the period, perhaps thanks to increased awareness and better equipment. Finally, patients between 14 and 19 years of age sustained a disproportionate number of the annual brain trauma cases which sounds like teens aren’t wearing their helmets when they should be.
We want to hear from you – why do you think women are more likely than men to be hospitalized for mountain bike injuries? Have you skipped professional medical treatment when you probably shouldn’t have?
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I could only think of the size difference in the skeleton between male and females. Perhaps the slightly smaller frame (in some cases) are more delicate in nature thus break easier?
When I read this report I wasn’t thinking of women like Melissa Buel or women who are in the sport and do this full time but more along the lines of a casual rider who does not ride as often.
I have many times hurt myself to the point where I should have gone to get professional treatment but decided not to. The only times I actually did go was when I broke bones… Kinda hard to fix that on your own
I am sure many a guy has done the same or thought the same….If it ain’t broke don’t need no professional help… I will heal..
I definitely think it has something to do with us being stubborn and not wanting to show weakness in front of our fellow man.
I agree with element22 and goose about us men. I can’t see wasting $150 co-pay for an ER visit unless something is broken or really, really bad. The wait time for my doc appointments have usually allowed enough healing (so far at least) to cancel those appointments.
For example, when Goose hurt his knee. He should have probably gotten it looked at but he just shrugged it off.