Study Investigating Prevalence of Pain in Horse Riders over Thirty-Five Years Old

Abstract

Horse riding is considered to be one of the most dangerous sports, more so than skiing, motor racing, and rugby. A rider will fall, on average, once every two years, and during their career, one in five are seriously injured. Previous research has looked at pain in elite dressage, show jumping, and event riders, and how overuse injuries and lifestyle could aggravate their pain and affect performance. Persistent pain can be debilitating and determine the end of a career. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of pain in riders over the age of 35 years and the location and management of pain and self-perception of whether pain affected riding. A primarily quantitative approach was used due to the exploratory nature of the survey undertaken. 2185 participants completed a questionnaire containing 46 open and closed questions. The pain was experienced by 85.4% (n = 1866) of the participants, making the over 35-year-old riders 5.85 times (O.R.) more likely to experience pain than pain-free. Females were 1.28 times (O.R.) more likely to experience pain than male riders. Participants attributed their pain to old age, arthritis, performing stable duties, and previous injuries, with 42% (n = 784) of participants having to stop riding due to pain. The most common method to treat pain was over-the-counter medication, with female participants being 2.2 times more likely to take medication than males. Participants who had been riding for 20 years or more were 6.54 times (O.R.) more likely to have pain than not and riders who did not take part in any other physical exercise were 1.4 times (O.R.) more likely to suffer pain. The high frequency of pain in riders over 35 years, particularly lower back pain, could be due to the length of their riding career. Whilst this study reports individual perception of pain and pain management, it is individual perception that is likely to determine the impact of the pain on that individual. Further research is required regarding the perception of pain to better establish the causes of pain and determine appropriate management strategies.

Keywords

• horse riding
• equestrian
• injury
• pain
• asymmetry