Since its inception, hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years ago, when the first person laid on a wooden plank and rode a wave to shore, the sport of surfing has been in a continuous state of evolution. The heavy wooden boards ridden by ancient Hawaiians were eventually modified to include a single tail fin. Boards became […]
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All Covid, all the time, or at least that’s what it feels like to me as an emergency physician on the East Coast of the US. But of course, whatever you do and wherever you surf, the global pandemic has affected you. And, unfortunately, it seems far from over. Way back in May, I asked my wizened uncle, 92-year-old professor emeritus […]
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In this 32nd volume of Surfing Medicine we take a glimpse at the future and respect the past. Surfing injuries at the Pipeline Masters is an analysis of data collated by surf doc Leland Dao, DO, who has long been that contest’s medical director. Arguably the most prestigious event on the WSL Championship Tour, the best surfers in […]
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A 48-year-old surfer sustained a 1cm linear laceration to his anterior lower leg while surfing. The waves were 3-4 feet the water temperature was 58℉ (14℃), and turbid. The surfer stated he was surfing over a rocky bottom, bumped his leg against something, and continued surfing. Upon removing his wetsuit, he noted a small linear […]
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As we pull together this Summer 2018 issue of Surfing Medicine the common theme that emerges from the great blue abyss is death. Try as we may to avert our gaze, there seems to be no avoiding it. “No other option” is a beautifully rendered, heartfelt, true story about a near-death surfing experience in Mexico […]
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A wizened old surfer observing idle young groms once said, “Youth is wasted on the young” – or perhaps it was Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. No matter. The fact is, that as we get older, we yearn for the flexibility, strength and quickness of our youth. True that 60 is the new 50, and […]
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A surf doctor is a know-it-all. Has to be. Take a look at this issue of Surfing Medicine, and you’ll see why. Part neurosurgeon (Bodyboarder with central cord syndrome), part ID specialist (Should you Frika about Zika?) part wildlife expert (Images from surfing medicine), all of these topics and more are included in this 29th […]
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There has been much hysteria in the news recently about the rapid spread of the Zika virus disease (ZVD). Awareness has been heightened by the 2016 summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, where the epidemic is widespread and a number of athletes withdrew due to fears of contracting an infection. Unfortunately for surfers, the […]
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In this issue we explore the extremes of surfing medicine. From extremely hot, “Sun protection for surfers” to extremely cold, “Cold water surfing and hypothermia”. From extremely old, “Granny and Doc” to extremely new, “Triple Crown Injury Report”. From extremely sharp, “Sea Urchin Injuries”……well you get the picture. In the “Sun protection” article, SMA newbie, […]
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