title: Upper Extremity Injuries in NASCAR Drivers and Pit Crew: An Epidemiological Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the position-specific musculoskeletal forces placed on the body of athletes facilitates treatment, prevention, and return-to-play decisions. While position-specific injuries are well documented in most major sports, little is known about the epidemiology of position-specific injuries in National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) drivers and pit crew.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate position-specific upper extremity injuries in NASCAR drivers and pit crew members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive epidemiological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed to assess position-specific injuries in NASCAR drivers and pit crew members. Included in the study were patients seen by a single institution between July 2003 and October 2014 with upper extremity injuries from race-related NASCAR events or practices. Charts were reviewed to identify the diagnosis, mechanism of injury, and position of each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 226 NASCAR team members were treated between July 2003 and October 2014. Of these, 118 injuries (52%) occurred during NASCAR racing events or practices. The majority of these injuries occurred in NASCAR changers (42%), followed by injuries in drivers (16%), carriers (14%), jack men (11%), fuel men (9%), and utility men (8%). The majority of the pit crew positions are at risk for epicondylitis, while drivers are most likely to experience neuropathies, such as hand-arm vibration syndrome. The changer sustains the most hand-related injuries (42%) on the pit crew team, while carriers commonly sustain injuries to their digits (29%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orthopaedic injuries in NASCAR vary between positions. Injuries in NASCAR drivers and pit crew members are a consequence of the distinctive forces associated with each position throughout the course of the racing season. Understanding these forces and position-associated injuries is important for preventive measures and facilitates diagnosis and return-to-play decisions so that each team can function at its maximal efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic, Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wertman
authors.affiliation: OrthoCarolina Hand Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: R Glenn
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.affiliation: OrthoCarolina Hand Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heisel
keywords: NASCAR; athletic performance; sports; sports medicine; upper extremity; wounds and injuries