Do you know the most common injuries in luge?
Luge is a very explosive sport, because it demands maximum acceleration at the outset. At the same time, it is important to keep the luge balanced with efficient weight transfers all the way down the track.
A luger needs to be in control of his neck, shoulders, back and legs – including his ankles – all at the same time.
Crashes are the cause of over half of all injuries in luge. They can cause concussions, fractures, cuts and contusions. Often, hands are injured in a crash. During the sledding itself, the neck and abdominal muscles are most active. It takes a strong neck to be able to counteract the forces exerted on the head, so pulled neck muscles are not uncommon.
Lugers are also vulnerable to overuse injury, particularly in the back, because of repetitive load during the training.
Common injuries
- Concussion
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Muscle contusion