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

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

September 14, 2018

Attractions / Recreation / Safety / Wellness /

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.

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16th February 2018 - Standards Australia highlights its role in trampoline park safety

15th February 2018 - Injury experts call for mandatory regulation to improve indoor trampoline park safety

14th February 2018 - Flip Out trampoline chain not part of voluntary industry code of practice

31st January 2018 - Damning Sydney newspaper report slams safety record of Flip Out trampoline centres

16th May 2017 - British safety body publishes trampoline arena standards

2nd May 2017 - Rae-Line offers padding solutions for activity, gymnastics, play and sport

15th April 2017 - Trampolines and AFL the leading cause of children’s recreational injuries in Western Australia

22nd September 2016 - International Trampoline Parks conference raises bar for industry

24th September 2014 - Trampoline association to undertake facilities safety check

22nd February 2014 - Attraction ordered to pay $4.6 million to quadriplegic for jumping pillow injury

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