Surfers Myelopathy

Gyro's picture
Gyro started the topic in Sunday, 15 Dec 2019 at 10:45am

A female friend of about 40yrs old went to a surfing school in the last couple of weeks and has had an (incident not accident) and the doctors say it was from the surfing. They called it 'Surfers Myelopathy' and she is now paralysed from waist down. I have been surfing for more than 35 years and myself and others had never heard of it, I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on apparently what is a growing problem? 

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Sunday, 15 Dec 2019 at 11:38am

Wow, what a horrible thing to happen. I've never heard of this before, but here are a few links that detail the condition:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6280062/
https://www.nature.com/articles/scsandc20178

There's also a Surfers Myelopathy Foundation:
http://www.smawareness.org/

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Sunday, 15 Dec 2019 at 11:51am

A growing problem??

OMG.

Hopefully the Daily Telegraph or A Current Affair can do an in-depth expose.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Tuesday, 17 Dec 2019 at 9:16am

That is fucking wild. Never even remotely heard of it. Reading that first paper it doesn’t even appear to be at all associated with any ‘usual’ spinal structural issues that would be linked to pain and dysfunction.

All the best to your friend. Hope they have a full recovery.

Gyro's picture
Gyro's picture
Gyro Tuesday, 17 Dec 2019 at 8:37am

Thanks Ben, I had seen the first article before, but the second one was very interesting. And who knew they had their own 'Foundation'.
Looks like there isn't much info out there for her. I was just hoping to gain some knowledge outside of the ordinary medical journals, and I certainly wasn't trying to scare people with the question or turn people away from the enjoyment I've known for 40 years and more to come. Keep up the great work and thanks again.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 18 Dec 2019 at 8:49pm

Jesus thats Farkn scary stuff..never heard of it and i wonder how many Surf school coaches are aware of it..

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Thursday, 19 Dec 2019 at 6:53am

Wow, never heard of this either, scary indeed, hopefully your friend can make some sort of recovery. Gyro.

loungelizard's picture
loungelizard's picture
loungelizard Thursday, 19 Dec 2019 at 9:48am

crazy. never heard of this. strange how it affects "novice " surfers only, cant think what they do that experienced surfers dont. . they are postulating vascular etiology, blood vessels dont generally adapt/change with exercise. is it that stupid jumping up and down they practice on the beach as it seems related to surf lessons specifically. we were all novices once and it doesnt seem to have affected people learning on their own?