Mini trampolines pose serious risk of feet injuries
Mini trampolines might seem harmless enough, but they pose the risk of serious foot and leg injuries, according to an article in The Los Angeles Times.
According to the newspaper, a new study shows most injuries on trampolines, whether mini or full-sized, happen at home, and the legs, feet and ankles are most commonly injured. Further, children younger than 6, who tend to be top-heavy and uncoordinated, are especially likely to sustain head lacerations on a mini-trampoline.
Examining reports of trampoline-related injuries included in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's database, researchers at the Columbus Children's Research Institute compared a random sample of full-size trampoline injuries with the smaller number of mini trampoline injuries. Because there are no available data on the number of trampolines sold or the frequency of their use, the researchers could not determine the risk of injury associated with trampolines. Instead, they studied the types and locations of injuries and compared the "injury patterns" of each type of trampoline. More than 8 in 10 people injured were younger than 18, almost a third were younger than 6, and more than 60 percent of the injuries were in girls.
The researchers said people should follow the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Trampolines should be used only under supervision as part of a training program.
