Fencing Injuries vs. Other Sports Injuries

[rockethearse]

Hi there-

Several years ago, I read somewhere a piece on sports injuries. There was a list compiled by a national organization of the number of reported serious injuries by sport. I remember fencing ranking rather low on the list, with fewer serious injuries than even ping-pong.

Does anyone know where I can find information on the safety of sport fencing? We are in the process of trying to convince our university's athletic center to allow the fencing club to meet there. They are concerned about the safety of a sport involving "swords". If we could show them it's relative safety in relation to other sports that are allowed there, it would help convince them, I think.

(A quick sidenote - the fencing club at our school has been inactive for about 10 years or so. There used to be a club and a class taught for at least 30 years prior to that, the later years having taken place in the rec center in question.)

[Phaeton]

Cheerleading may be the most hazardous sport, and Football may have a dizzying number of permanant mental injuried during the year, but fencing gets looked at skeptically, and I can really see where people are coming from.

I've got a few links for you:

Here is great for general sports injury information: www.unc.edu/depts/nccsi

There is a solid study done here: www.exra.org/FencingChptr.htm .

There is a USFA survey at: www.exra.org/FENCINGarticle.htm .

[pancavalier41]

Recently, there have been a lot more studies and stats taken at fencing tournaments, especially at NACs and those level of competitions. You may want to get into contact with Peter Harmer, who is the head of the USFA Sports Medicine Committee. Another person to talk to would be John Heil.

In general, compared to other sports, fencing is very safe. With the equipment standards the way they are today, it is one of the safest "contact/combat" sports out there. Catastrophic injuries in the sport are close to nil, and those that have occured have been from malfunctions/problems with protective equipment. It is a common misconception that since we use weapons and "swords (as you put it)" it is a very dangerous sport. Truthfully, the rate of injury in fencing is much lower than the rate of injury in high profile national sports like football, soccer, basketball, hockey, and probably the most injurious of all sports cheerleading (and yes that is a fact!)

[Phrogger]

I have been seeking similar information and recently sent a request to the USFA. I have seen the studies listed by Phaeton but they are in my opinion, weak. There isn't a significant sampling in either study, but the biggest weakness is the lack of comparison to other, more common sports. In theory you could compare it to a study on other sports, but different sampling and survey criteria makes it difficult to compare them evenly unless you're an expert number cruncher.

Originally Posted by pancavalier41

In general, compared to other sports, fencing is very safe...Truthfully, the rate of injury in fencing is much lower than the rate of injury in high profile national sports like football, soccer, basketball, hockey, and probably the most injurious of all sports cheerleading (and yes that is a fact!)

I hear a lot of people talk about the safety of fencing but in reality, if you don't have data/references to back it up, it doesn't mean anything.

[pancavalier41]

The earlier post that references the 3 studies....well many are 10 years old or older. There have been a lot of recent studies published, particularly in Europe, which do support the claims. Unfortunately, I do not have them nor do I have a link for them. Like I mentioned earlier, get in contact with Peter Harmer. He knows of these or where to find them. He is on the FIE medical commission as well.

[DHCJr]

There maybe information from American Sports Data, but it will cost you as in $495.

http://www.americansportsdata.com/sports_injury2.asp

The NCAA had a report a number of years ago that listed every possible sport, including cheerleading. Ladies fencing was in the group with the least injuries, I think with golf and archery. Men's fencing was in the next group. The current studies only include 16 major sports. I will try and find the old data.

[black tulip]

Do you have a qualified instructor to coach or is this a student coached club? An experienced coach can provide a structured and safe training enviroment. A student led club may have experienced fencers who can oversee practices now but what happens they graduate?

Your university may want this peace of mind.

Black Tulip

[clonardo]

We had two pretty nasty knee injuries this year on my team, but I don't know if you'd really count them. One girl dislocated her knee at a competition to which she arrived late- she didn't have time to stretch or warm up, and I guess her form was off. Another girl had a pre-existing knee condition, and her front patella dislocated as she landed in a lunge. I've seen Osgood-Schlatter's seriously aggravated by fencing.

The weapons are the least dangerous part. It's the footwork that'll cripple you.

[rudd]

Originally Posted by clonardo

The weapons are the least dangerous part. It's the footwork that'll cripple you.

Totally agree, we're had two major injuries in our club in the last year. Both ACL tears. But in general much safer than most contact sports.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by clonardo

The weapons are the least dangerous part. It's the footwork that'll cripple you.

What a wonderful fencing slogan for a t-shirt!

[S. Richardson]

I have found this attitude in various locations and I wonder if all the reports in the world are going to make a difference. My concern is that our society as a whole is fearful of any sport that seems to endorse the use of "weapons" in an organized public educational setting. I've heard of fencign clubs being denied using the space at high schools because the foils violate their rules about weapons on school grounds (!). This may be a bigger issue than we realize and the safety concern is the reason given to appear more palatable.

[Fechter1]

Originally Posted by S. Richardson

I've heard of fencign clubs being denied using the space at high schools because the foils violate their rules about weapons on school grounds (!).

Of course, most of these schools have baseball teams (clubs can easily be classified as weapons, no?), and some would likely have track teams (javelin!!!) as well, right? Best way to combat this, IMHO, would be through education (injury risk compared to other sports, heaps of protective equipment, etc), and by not calling them weapons (at least in that setting).

[larkmaj]

Originally Posted by S. Richardson

I've heard of fencign clubs being denied using the space at high schools because the foils violate their rules about weapons on school grounds (!). This may be a bigger issue than we realize and the safety concern is the reason given to appear more palatable.

There are some college clubs that have issues because you're not allowed to have weapons in your dorm, and some administrations believe fencing equipment qualifies.

[SSMSabreMN]

Originally Posted by clonardo

The weapons are the least dangerous part. It's the footwork that'll cripple you.

I agree. Just 2 weeks ago I got to practice after a tournament that weekend, so we were all slightly sore, and at the end when I went for a lunge in a bout my knee locked straight instead and I ended up hyperextending it. I had to take off nearly 2 weeks practice and miss a competition so I'd be alright to fence at a Midwest Championship this weekend. Even then I was a little uneasy about my lunges.


If your university's athletic trainer is ready for those kind of injuries, the weapons are virtually harmless so you shouldn't have too much to worry about.

Several years ago, I read somewhere a piece on sports injuries. There was a list compiled by a national organization of the number of reported serious injuries by sport. I remember fencing ranking rather low on the list, with fewer serious injuries than even ping-pong.

I really have to assume they mean there aren't many injuries involving the weapons, because I've been to about 3 tournaments this year, and several team competitions and seen countless ankle sprains, knee injuries, sprained wrists, and dehydration.