Studies show rise in ‘different’ types of injuries at commercial trampoline parks

A pair of studies show that commercial trampoline parks are contributing to an increase in trampoline injuries among children, with the injuries different from those incurred on backyard trampolines. 

Recently released research from the University of Adelaide and Women and Children’s Hospital shows that children hurt at commercial trampoline parks have more expensive injuries and spend longer in hospital than those jumping at home, a new study shows.

The survey of 392 children, published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, shows the majority of trampoline injuries occur at home, with most caused by children falling onto hard surfaces or hitting other objects.

Associate Professor Nicole Williams, the co-author of the study told Adelaide newspaper The Advertiser that acrobatic stunts cause a third of all injuries, advising “the majority of children attempting acrobatics were attempting backflips, flips or somersaults.”

The survey showed 69% of injuries occurred at a private home and 19% at a commercial trampoline park while the rest happened at school or in a gym.

Most cases resulted in costs of between $500 and $4300 for each injury.

About 17% required hospital admission and 12% cent surgical intervention with no difference in admission rates between commercial and private locations. However, commercial trampoline park injuries were more expensive to treat and children needed to stay in hospital longer.

A second, Canadian-based study, also published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, set out to compare characteristics associated with backyard and trampoline park injuries (TPI) using records from the electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (eCHIRPP).

It also found a rise in injuries at commercial trampoline parks with sprains the most common type of injury.

Click here to visit the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health website.

Image used for illustrative purposes only.