Girls in Marching Bands March to the Beat of Injuries
Revealing the Risks Girls in Marching Bands Prone to Injury
Sour Notes Girls in Marching Bands Face High Injury Risk
Not all high school injuries happen on the football field or the basketball court. Marching band is also a physically demanding activity and participants can suffer injuries, as seen in a new study that looked at emergency room visits.
Injuries ranged from issues with the knees or ankles to mild head trauma. Imagine the horror of a trombone mishap or losing balance while doing a trumpet twirl! Ouch!
But guess who took most of the hit? Girls! Yes, about 70% of marching band-related injuries reported to emergency departments over a nine-year period were in high school-age females. Most were knee and ankle injuries. Who knew marching to the beat could be such a risky endeavor?
The research was presented Sunday at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
“Like their instruments, band members must be in tune with their bodies,” said Capt. Jacob Coene, a doctor in the U.S. Air Force. “Coaches and parents should be educated on the risk of soft tissue injury and mild traumatic brain injury to help keep their band members marching to the beat of the drum.” Talk about being in harmony with your body!
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To study the issue, researchers reviewed more than 20,000 marching band injuries reported to emergency departments between 2012 and 2021 in data provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. That’s a lot of band-aid calls!
About 85% of marching band injuries occurred in those aged 14 to 18. It seems like the teenage years are not just about school and friendships but also about dodging trumpet malfunctions and ankle sprains. About 6% of injuries were mild traumatic brain injury. Half of the injuries occurred in the lower body. Marchers, please watch your step!
Don’t worry though, most of these marching band injury patients were treated and released from the emergency department. No need to steal the spotlight from the next performance!
The National Athletic Trainer Association made recommendations in 2017 to keep marching band members safe, according to the researchers. Who said band geeks can’t be athletic too?
States including Texas and Oklahoma now require pre-participation physicals for marching band members. We’re taking marching band preparation to a whole new level!
A lack of evidence exists describing injury trends in marching band, the study authors noted. Looks like their findings are striking a chord, revealing the importance of shedding some light on this underappreciated field.
So let’s make sure the next time we see a marching band, apart from enjoying their groovy tunes and synchronized moves, we also appreciate the physical demands they face and the need to keep them injury-free.
More information Nationwide Children’s Hospital has more on kids’ sports injuries. source
