title: Bicycle-related injuries among young children related to age at debut of cycling.
abstract: This study focuses on bicycle-related injuries among young children and the effect of being an inexperienced beginner related to age at debut of cycling. The study was based on a random stratified population sample of 1200 children aged 4-15 years in Bergen, Norway. Data about age at debut of cycling, cycling habits and any previous bicycle-related injuries were collected. A child was defined as a beginner within the first 12 months of active cycling. Relation between the first bicycle-related injury and age at debut was analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The risk of getting injured during the first 12 months of active cycling were significant lower for children aged 7 or 8 years at the debut of cycling compared to younger children (hazard ratio = 0.78, P < 0.001). Children cycling more than 1h per week were at greater risk of getting injured during the first 12 months than those who cycled less (hazard ratio = 1.95, P = 0.014). This study shows that the risk of getting injured during the first 12 months of active cycling is reduced if bicycling debut is delayed until 7 or 8 years instead of at 4 or 5 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. kari.hansen@haukeland.no
authors.forename: Kari Schrøder
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Geir Egil
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omenaas
authors.forename: Lars Birger
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Engesaeter
authors.forename: Asgaut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology