Are mountain bike injuries on the rise?

A. New report from the University of British Columbia He claims the number of people suffering spinal cord injuries while mountain biking is “alarming”.

Researchers found 58 people suffered spinal cord injuries while mountain biking in BC between 2008 and 2022. Only three such injuries occurred due to ice hockey during the same 14-year period.

The senior author of the study, Dr. Brian Kwon decided to investigate the issue after seeing a high number of injuries coming from mountain bike parks and trails.

“There were a lot of people coming down the hill with these injuries,” Kwon said. “This isn’t something to make a particularly nuanced observation.”

Kwon is a spine surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital, professor of orthopedics and Canada Research Chair in spinal cord injury at UBC.

Spinal cord injuries often lead to permanent and life-altering paralysis, study says. Researchers found that 93 percent of those injured were young, healthy men, with an average age of 35. Of those injured, 77.5 percent were ejected from the handlebars, 12 percent were ejected from impact, and 8.8 percent were ejected from other factors.

The majority of those injured were wearing helmets (86 percent), while 9 percent were using helmets and body protection. Only 4.5 percent were not wearing protective clothing.

Kwon said injuries from mountain biking are no surprise given the intensity of the activity.

“People are coming down fast. They’re coming down by gravity, and they’re going over really rough terrain, so it might not be surprising that when you’re going down a trail at high speed, you might hit a rock, or a branch, or a tree root. If you go flying over your handlebars, your head and neck are going to be pretty vulnerable,” Kwon said. .

The financial cost of the injuries was staggering for Kwon. Researchers estimate that collectively the injuries will cost the state $195.4 million. This includes lifetime healthcare and rehabilitation costs, patient expenses, and other economic costs such as lost productivity, according to the study.

acquire good habits

Although it is a risky sport, there are businesses that try to reduce the dangers. Endless Biking is a rental shop in North Vancouver. offers a variety of mountain bike lessons teaching people good habits while on the road. Sessions cover many levels of experience, from beginners to those who have been on the trails many times.

Darren Butler, who has co-owned Endless Biking since it opened its doors in 2004, says taking lessons, wearing some protective gear and knowing your abilities are some ways to reduce the risk of injury while cycling.

“People need to be aware that education is available,” Butler said. “A lot of sports will have some form of coaching and development involved. “If you want to start kitesurfing, there are no kite drivers to take you out on the water unless you have some training.”

Butler said some people feel a false sense of ability when mountain biking because they learned to ride when they were young.

As for protective equipment, Butler said every rider is different and it may depend on the trail taken. Some riders wear padding from top to bottom, including neck and back supports, while others prefer to ride with less padding to avoid feeling restricted.

Butler said many things have changed in the last two decades, including improved bikes and trails.

Butler said trail infrastructure, maintenance and signage informing cyclists of the route’s level and recommended fitness level are some of the things added to trails to provide more information before heading out on the route.

“For anyone who has had a life-changing injury, that’s not something we want to see in any sport, in any activity. Mountain biking has its appeal because of some of the risks that come with it, and that’s part of why we do it, and obviously we want to try to minimize those risks,” he said. .

Kwon hopes the study findings will bring greater awareness to mountain biking injuries and discussions about improving safety.

Going forward, Kwon plans to research what equipment can effectively protect mountain bikers on the trail.

Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for North Shore News. This reporting rhythm is made possible by: Local Journalism Initiative. (email protected)