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Rally drivers at high risk of musculo-skeletal problems

September 26, 2001

Rally drivers are at high risk of musculo-skeletal problems, shows research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. And the rate is greater than that reported for many industrial workers.

Questionnaires were distributed to 13 professional and 105 amateur rally drivers, who regularly competed for at least 10 days of the year in stage rallies in the 2000 season. These types of rallies are on closed roads with no speed restrictions. The questions were designed to ascertain whole body and hand wrist symptoms of musculo-skeletal injuries. Comprehensive body maps were also included to pinpoint specific areas of discomfort.

Over 90 per cent of the respondents reported discomfort in at least one body area after rallying. Spinal problems were by far the most common complaint, with 70 per cent reporting low back pain in the lumbar section of the spine, but all areas of the spine were affected. Almost half complained of shoulder problems and almost a third of drivers reported hand and wrist symptoms after driving.

Co-drivers were also affected, with over 60 per cent reporting neck (cervical region) problems and 9 per cent saying they experienced discomfort in the hands and wrists.

Twelve of the respondents had also sustained low back injuries including slipped discs and vertebral fractures. Ten reported neck injuries and whiplash. Broken and dislocated fingers were also reported.

Almost one fifth said they had "considerable pain" in at least one area, most commonly in the lower back and neck and a quarter of respondents said they lost the flexibility in their hands and wrists after rallying. Almost one third of drivers reported tingling, numbness and blanching in their hands.

The level of the complaints, say the authors is higher than that reported for industrial workers routinely exposed to high levels of whole body vibration, and they suggest that the extreme environment of the rally car, where vibration levels are very high, is to blame for the high rate of musculo-skeletal complaints.

British Medical Journal (BMJ)

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