Child Trampoline Injuries at Jump Centers Differ From Those Suffered At Home: Study

Amid mounting concerns about the risk of injuries at trampoline parks opening worldwide, a study by Australian researchers indicates that not only do the number of child trampoline injuries increase when a new jump center opens, but the nature of the injuries are different from those typically experienced when children are injured on traditional back yard trampolines. 

Researchers looked at what happened at a hospital after a trampoline park opened nearby, and noted that there is usually an increase in child injuries, which included soft tissue injuries and fractures. The findings were published on August 15 in the medical journal Injury Prevention.

For the study, researchers looked at medical records and conducted interviews in a pediatric emergency department for a six month period after a trampoline park opened nearby. During that time, they logged 40 child injuries linked to the one indoor jump park.

“Unlike domestic trampolines, where the majority of injuries occur from falling off, most trampoline-park injuries occur on the trampoline surface,” the researchers noted. “These differences require injury prevention strategies that engage children, carers and businesses to meet best practice design and management standards.”

Researchers found that of the 40 injuries, 55% were female. The injuries typically resulted from children falling while trying to do a somersault or tricks, landing on protective padding or an obstacle, like a ball or sustained while multiple people tried to use the trampoline at the same time.

The findings came just days after a report published by the medical journal Pediatrics warned that the trampoline park injury rate has increased dramatically in the last several years.

That study found that trampoline park injuries were more likely to involve injuries to the lower extremities, such as leg fractures. Those accounted for nearly 60% of all injuries.

Injuries sustained at home were more likely to be to the upper limbs, such as elbow fractures. Those accounted for 34% of injuries, while forearm fractures accounted for 18% of injuries.

A survey of emergency room doctors published earlier this year indicated most doctors would ban trampolines from their homes. Trampolines ranked number one among the top eight items doctors refuse to have in their homes due to safety reasons, citing the possibility of serious injury. Research published in 2014 indicated trampoline injuries involved more than 250,000 people over the last decade, the majority of which were bone fractures impacting children.

A 2012 study published warned consumers about the risks of recreational trampolines and indicated there was no way to make the equipment safe, including using safety netting and safety padding. The report outlined the failure of those safety devices to adequately protect children and prevent injuries.