There have been many talks lately about whether parkour is terrible for your knees.
Some say that the jumps and landings in this sport can cause severe damage to your joints, while others maintain that it’s no more dangerous than any other form of exercise. So what’s the truth? Is parkour terrible for your joints? Is parkour dangerous?
In this blog post, we’ll look closely at the evidence and find out what happens to your body when you practice parkour.
Is Parkour Bad for Your Knees?
Most people who do parkour are young and in their physical prime. They often see videos of Traceurs flipping and jumping off of things and want to try it themselves.
What they don’t realize that those Traceurs have years of experience and have built up their strength and conditioning over time. Some people start doing parkour, without building up the necessary strength and conditioning, which puts them at risk for injuries.
One of the most common injuries in parkour is a knee injury. The knee is a straightforward joint to injure as it absorbs the impact of repetitive jumps and landings often required in parkour.
The knees are subject to a lot of stress during parkour, which can lead to pain and swelling in the short term, and may even cause long-term damage such as arthritis.
In addition, parkour practitioners often wear shoes with very little support, which can further add to the risk of a knee injury. Also, many parkour moves require you to twist or turn your body in an unnatural angle, leading to knee injuries.
So, is parkour bad for your knees? The answer is maybe. But with proper preparation and training, you can minimize the risks and enjoy the many benefits of this unique sport.
However, it is worth noting that parkour is not necessarily more dangerous than other sports. Many of the same risks apply to activities such as basketball or football.
How do you Strengthen your Knees for Parkour?
If you’re interested in practicing parkour, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of a knee injury.
First, it’s essential to build up your strength and conditioning gradually. Parkour athletes must condition their bodies to withstand the impact of repeated jumps and landings.
This is especially true for the knees, which are often subjected to high-stress levels during training. To strengthen the knees for parkour, athletes can perform various exercises to build leg strength and improve joint stability.
Jump squats, lunges, and single-leg deadlifts are all great exercises for building lower body strength. Additionally, incorporating balance training and plyometric drills into your workout can help to improve joint stability and reduce the risk of injury.
Following a well-rounded training plan, parkour athletes can build the strength and endurance to perform even the most challenging stunts.
Second, warm up properly before each session and cool down afterward. This will help to reduce the risk of injury. Third, wear shoes that provide good support for your feet and ankles. This will help to protect your knees from the impact of landings.
Finally, be sure to listen to your body. If you feel any pain or discomfort, stop what you’re doing and rest.
Are Injuries Common in Parkour?
While parkour may look dangerous, the truth is that injuries are relatively uncommon. Of course, there are always risks involved in any physical activity, and parkour is no exception.
Accidents can happen, and parkour practitioners can sometimes sustain injuries from falls or collisions. However, parkour incidents are relatively rare, and parkour death is infrequent.
Parkour injury statistics show that Skin abrasions were the most prevalent type of injury (70.3 percent ). 13.1 percent of the traceurs had muscle injuries, 6.1 percent had dislocations, and 7.5 percent had soft tissue (such as ligaments and tendons) injuries (5.3 percent ).
However, even minor injuries can be enough to put parkour practitioners out of commission for weeks or even months. Parkour fatalities are rare, but they do occur on occasion.
Often, parkour injuries and deaths result from careless mistakes or attempting tricks beyond the practitioners’ skill level. The majority of traceurs stopped using passive precautions (88 percent).
The movement element that caused most injuries (61 percent) was landing, then supporting and static arm movements (10.7 percent ). The most frequent causes were overestimation (23%) and poor situational judgment (20%).
However, even with these risks, parkour remains an exciting and relatively safe way to get exercise and explore the world around us.
Most Common Injuries in Parkour
The most common injuries from parkour include:
- Foot and Hand Bruises which are usually the results of falls or collisions with hard surfaces.
- Shin Hits typically occur when the shinbone strikes an obstacle during a jump or vault.
- Knee Sprain can be caused by landing awkwardly after a jump or vault.
- Knee Capitations usually happens when the kneecap is hit directly by an object.
- Ankle Sprain occurs when the foot twists or turns excessively, resulting in stretched or torn ligaments.
- Shoulder or hip bruise from the roll. This happens when a traceur land on his shoulder or hip and then slides across the ground. The friction between the body and the floor can cause the skin to tear, resulting in a bruise.
- Rips on the hands are also common, especially if you’re not wearing gloves. This can happen if you catch your hand on a sharp edge or if you fall on your hand.
- Finger capitation is another common injury when the joint at the base of your finger pops out of place. This happens when the finger is caught on something while attempting a vault.
While these injuries can be painful, they are typically not severe and can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. However, more severe injuries can occur if parkour practitioners do not take proper precautions.
Parkour safety is essential to prevent more severe injuries, such as concussions, broken bones, and sprains. Wearing the proper safety gear, such as gloves, elbow and knee pads, and a helmet can help to reduce the risk of injury.
How Many People Die from Parkour?
It is unclear how many people die from parkour, as there is no centralized reporting system for parkour-related fatalities, which is one of the disadvantages of parkour. However, a quick search of news reports shows that deaths from parkour are relatively rare.
There have been some parkour deaths in recent years, such as the death of a 24-year-old Russian girl in 2012. She died while trying to jump across a 7-meter-wide gap from an 18-meter-high roof to a 14-meter-high top in St. Petersburg, Russia.
While these deaths are tragic, it’s important to remember that they are rare and do not necessarily reflect the risks of the sport as a whole.
Conclusion
Parkour is relatively safe when proper safety precautions are taken. However, as with any physical activity, there is always the risk of injury. The best way to reduce the risk of injury is to be aware of your surroundings and to know your limits.