PCOM Student Leads Study of Youth Injuries in Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Surfing

June 12, 2025

A new study led by a Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine student is the first to directly compare child injury patterns in board sports—skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing—in an effort to help inform healthcare personnel of injury patterns, especially in settings like beaches or mountains where immediate care may be limited.

Published in the journal Injury, the study drew data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for orthopedic and craniofacial trauma among children participating in any of the three activities, which involve similar techniques but on different terrains, between 2014 and 2023. Of the more than 546,000 qualifying injuries that led to emergency room care, patterns emerged:

• Early adolescent males were the most commonly injured group
• Upper extremity fractures, such as the arm or wrist, were the most common orthopedic injury among skateboarders and snowboarders
• Snowboarders experienced more concussions and upper-extremity fractures—such as shoulder injuries—but fewer lower-extremity injuries, such as those to the ankles or feet
• Head and neck cuts were the most common injury among surfers, along with strains and sprains to upper extremities

These trends may inform healthcare systems by enhancing understanding of pediatric-specific injury patterns and mechanisms, enabling pediatric emergency departments and trauma centers to “optimize triage, ensure appropriate pediatric specialist availability, and improve outcomes for young patients through targeted treatment strategies,” according to the article, led by PCOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine student Alexander Gerick with co-authors David Kell and Brendan A. Williams, MD.

A native of San Diego, Gerick grew up skateboarding, snowboarding, and dabbled in surfing. These experiences, as well as an early interest in orthopedic surgery during medical school, inspired him to examine board sport injuries. Williams, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopedic Center and the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, pointed Gerick to the NEISS database for the study.

This isn’t Gerick’s first research endeavor. As a Biomedical Sciences student at PCOM before entering the DO program, Gerick studied cardiovascular development with Cathy J. Hatcher, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and a professor of Physiology. Another project, with an orthopedic surgeon, examined knee arthroplasties, and Gerick presented findings at a national conference in Las Vegas. Another manuscript Gerick wrote with Williams is in its final stages.

Gerick has pursued research to further develop his academic and clinical interests and improve patient care, particularly in areas that align with his passion for perioperative medicine. The rising fourth-year student is most interested in pursuing cardiac, critical care, or pediatric anesthesiology as a specialty.

For parents of skaters, snowboarders, or surfers who read his study, Gerick emphasizes that injury risk is present in all types of sports.

“If children and teens are passionate about this activity, they shouldn’t be discouraged from participating, as board sports can foster social interaction, help build friendships, and support social development,” he said.

For healthcare professionals, specifically in sports medicine and orthopedics but also in the ER, heightening awareness of the types of injuries those participating in board sports may sustain can illuminate “opportunities for earlier recognition and more targeted treatment.”

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