The wrist fracture is a common injury associated with the extreme sport of skateboarding. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 26,000 individuals are hospitalized each year for skateboarding injuries. Mastering the essential skateboarding techniques will allow you to maintain control of the board. Wearing safety gear will help to prevent wrist injuries.
Learn the Basics
When learning the basics, stick to level terrain that features a smoothly paved surface. Align your feet on the top of the skateboard with your shoes about shoulder width apart. Bend your knees at a 45-degree angle to lower your center of gravity. When performing turns and maneuvers, extend your arms parallel to the ground for increased balance. Clear the riding terrain of rocks and debris to avoid falling backward onto your wrists.
Safety Gear
To prevent your wrists from breaking in the event of a backward fall, wear a specialized type of wrist guard. According to the safety experts at X Sports Protective, the most common type of skateboarding wrist guards feature a rigid split that extends from the base of your wrist to the top of your palm. The lightweight splint often features a fiberglass or carbon fiber design. The Velcro straps help to keep the wrist guards in place during high-impact falls.
Learning to Fall
As any avid skateboarder will tell you, falling is an inevitable part of the trick learning process. Professional skateboarders have developed a special falling technique to avoid painful injuries including wrist fractures. Attempting to catch yourself in the event of a backward fall will put the majority of your body weight on the delicate bones of your wrist. When falling, try to keep the bottoms of your shoes parallel to the ground. Tuck your arms to your sides to keep your wrists protected.
Skate Within Your Abilities
Many inexperienced skateboarders make the mistake of riding on obstacles that require advanced board control. After mastering the basics on flat ground, you may want to move on to ramp skating. Avoid wrist fractures by learning the essential ramp riding skills on an inclined bank ramp. As opposed to the sloping face of the quarter-pipe ramp, the bank ramp features a flattened face that provides increased stability for novice riders. Lean back slightly while ascending the ramp. Keep your knees back to prevent a backward fall.
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