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Affiliation
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Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease and School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK. |
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Abstract
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REASONS FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY: Polo, one of the world's oldest sports, is unique in merging human skill and balance with animal agility and performance in a contact sport. These modern day centaurs offer medical, dental and veterinary scientists, an unrivalled, if quirky, opportunity to collaborate. Epidemiological data on injuries to UK polo riders and ponies is the first step.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the reported risk and risk factors for injuries to UK polo ponies, their perception and mitigation by player-owners. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort design and telephone interviews were used.
METHODS: Data on equine injuries, preseason training and risk perception were collected from a random sample of player-owners using a structured questionnaire. Injuries were defined as requiring veterinary treatment. Frequencies were represented as percentages and 95% confidence intervals. Risk factors for injuries were identified by univariable and multivariable analyses.
RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of player-owner reported injury was 10.6% (95%CI:8.4-12.7). Tendon injuries were most common (4.3%:2.9-5.7) followed by wounds and splints. The only risk factor was stabling all season (odds ratio (OR) 4.79: 95% confidence interval (CI):1.46-15.73). Tendon injuries were perceived as the major risk and hard ground the most important risk factor. Risk mitigation practices were bandaging before exercise (45.7%:34.8-56.5), checking tendons (84.0%:76.0-91.9); cold hosing (40.7%:30.0-51.4); bandaging (38.3%:27.7-48.9) and using clays and coolants (24.7%:15.3-34.1) after exercise. Cuts and wounds were only considered most frequent by 2.5% (0.0-3.6) of players but were the second most common injury, accounting for 21.6% of veterinary treatments. Splints accounted for 12.5% of injuries.
CONCLUSIONS: The risk of injury to polo ponies is similar to that in the general horse population; musculoskeletal, particularly tendon injuries are most common, followed by wounds and splints. The association between stabling and injury, risk factors for wounds and splints and efficacy of cooling tendons post exercise warrant further study.
Language: en |