Surfer’s paralysis (myelopathy) - beginning surfers beware!
When one thinks of the dangers of surfing, things like sharks, sharp coral reefs, high waves and strong currents come to mind. But who knew that surfing on even a calm day on a harmless beach could be dangerous? A recent newspaper article about a young man who became paralyzed after taking his first surf lesson on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, caught my attention. Even though only a small number of beginning surfers are afflicted by this largely unknown and completely preventable condition called surfer’s myelopathy, it is scary and devastating for those who suffer from it.
Surfer’s myelopathy is a nontraumatic spine injury. It usually affects beginning surfers who arch their back too often or too long while paddling on a surfboard. The constant arching reduces blood flow to the spine, which can cause paralysis of the legs. The surfer in the newspaper article had a one-hour lesson. During the lesson, he noticed back pain but continued surfing. After the lesson he went out of the water and sat down on the beach. About a half hour later, he couldn’t stand up anymore and walk. He was paralyzed from the waist down. He was transferred to a hospital in Denver, Colorado, where he is receiving physiotherapy. Some surfers afflicted with this condition recover completely, some never do, some only do partially. It depends on the severity of the injury and each individual person.
In a study that was published in 2004 in the journal Spine, doctors at Straub Clinic and Hospital on Oahu reported nine cases of surfer’s myelopathy between June 1998 and January 2003. Of the nine, three recovered completely. Four had mild residual weakness, but with full feeling. Three had persistent urinary trouble and one remained paraplegic (Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information).
So if you’re a novice surfer, watch out for these symptoms while surfing: Mild weakness, sensory problems and back pain. A good advice for first-time surfers is to not surf for a long time. Stop immediately and head back to the beach if you are feeling the slightest back pain. Have many breaks during your first surfing lessons. In other words, take it easy!
All surf instructors should know about this dangerous condition and before each surf lesson they should tell their students about it.
