Career-ending injuries to professional jockeys in British horse racing (1991-2005).
BACKGROUND
It has been previously shown that professional jump and flat racing jockeys suffer a high incidence of injury as a consequence of their profession. This paper specifically examines career-ending injuries to professional jockeys in Great Britain.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate career-ending injuries in professional jockeys.


METHODS
Analysis of prospectively collected injury database on professional jockeys.


RESULTS
The majority of injuries in this study occurred to the head, shoulder or torso. Fractures were the most common type of injury that led to a decision to end a career, followed by neurological injury to the head and/or spine.


CONCLUSIONS
Injuries to the head are the most common career-ending injuries, and consideration of injury counter measures could be an important strategy in equestrian sports.
Balendra
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Paul McCrory, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. p.mccrory@unimelb.edu.au
Turner
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McCrory
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D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology