Bond University is partnering with international governing body Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association (SUPAA) to launch the first worldwide study into stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) practices and injuries.
Dr James Furness, Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy at Bond University, said he was keen to recruit as many stand-up paddlers as possible - of all ages and abilities - to participate in the ground-breaking research study, which can be completed online in just 5-10 minutes.
“Less than 10 years ago, virtually no-one had heard of stand-up paddleboarding, but the growth of SUP as a recreational activity and a sport worldwide - and particularly here in Australia - has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Assistant Professor Furness said.
“SUP is now widely described as the fastest growing aquatic sport in the world, but because it is still a relatively new sport, it is considerably under-researched.
“There is no published data specific to injuries associated with the sport, and most of what we do know is anecdotal.
“At this point in time, we’re not sure if there are any areas of the body that are more prone to injury through SUP, or even whether injuries are being incurred in or out of the water, for example when people are transporting their paddles from the car to the water.
“The aim of this research is not just to investigate the type, nature and location of SUP injuries, but also learn more about how people participate in the sport.
“For example where and when people paddle; whether they paddle solo, with a buddy or in groups; what type of board they use; and whether they receive any instruction on how to paddle first.
“Our ultimate aim for the research findings is to build a foundation for injury prevention strategies, which will benefit the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children worldwide who love and participate in SUP.
“To ensure we retain a true representation of the SUP population, we invite all stand-up paddle boarders, with or without a current or past injury from SUP, to participate in our study.”
The online study takes 5-10 minutes to complete and can be found here: https://bond.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0IKqTEGI9SW4Vz7
All information provided will remain anonymous.
This latest research from Bond University’s Water Based Research Unit, follows on from research undertaken by Assistant Professor Ben Schram in 2014 into the benefits of stand-up paddle boarding for fitness, core strength, balance and back pain.