Sweden sees giant leap in trampoline accidents

Sweden has witnessed a tenfold increase in trampoline accidents in recent years as the spring-loaded devices continue to grow in popularity.

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More than 5,000 cases of trampoline-related injuries were registered in 2008, a sharp increase on previous years. But preliminary figures for 2009 indicate that several hundred more children bounced their way to the country’s clinics and hospitals last year, according to statistics reviewed by Barnolycksfonden, a research foundation run jointly by insurance firm Trygg-Hansa and Astrid Lindgren’s Children’s Hospital.

“One probable cause is that more people are getting trampolines, possibly combined with a development whereby people are trying our more advanced moves that they haven’t quite mastered,” said Björn Sporrong, a board member at Barnolycksfonden.

Twisted wrists, ankles, fingers and arms are the most common injuries sustained by children on trampolines, while neck and head injuries are also common.

The majority of injuries occur when several children play on a trampoline at the same time, increasing the risk of collisions, falls and accidental headbutts.

One out of ten trampoline injuries leave children requiring hospital treatment, while the average age of children injured using trampolines is eleven. Figures also show that girls in the younger age groups are more likely to sustain injuries than boys.

Björn Sporrong was however keen to stress that trampolines are not only instruments of injury.

“They help develop balance, coordination and fitness. Used in the right way they can be really fun playthings.”