Polo Injuries Research: Low Injury Rate and High Severity

(Illustrative Only)

This research is interesting because it found that while injuries in polo are less common than in sports such as soccer and rugby, they tend to be more severe when they do occur. This highlights the importance of taking safety measures seriously, enforcing the rules, and promoting safe play. Because polo involves horses, speed, and physical contact, injuries can have significant consequences even when they occur relatively infrequently.

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Polo Injuries: High Severity Despite a Relatively Low Injury Rate

• A study of 103 amateur and professional polo players in Germany and Switzerland found that 40% experienced at least one injury, with 55 injuries reported overall.
• Although the injury rate of 5.3–6.1 injuries per 1,000 player-game hours was relatively low compared with sports such as rugby and soccer, 67% of the polo injuries were classified as major.
• Trauma accounted for 84% of injuries, with falls from the horse being the most common mechanism. The upper extremities were injured most frequently (42%), followed by the lower extremities (25%), trunk (22%), and head (11%).
• Overuse problems were also common. More than half of the players reported pain that did not prevent them from playing, particularly involving the wrist, lower back, groin, and hitting arm.
• The researchers emphasized prevention, particularly certified helmets and facial protection, and recommended that polo matches have medical personnel trained in trauma management because potentially life-threatening injuries can occur.

Neumayr, L., & Schmitt, H. (2019). Injuries in polo: A retrospective evaluation of 103 polo riders. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin, 70(2), 38–42. https://doi.org/10.5960/dzsm.2019.363