‘Weekend warriors’ face higher injury risk: study

Calgary, Alberta – Maybe you know somebody who works in a cubicle all week and cuts loose on the weekend with motocross, hiking, rock climbing or other demanding physical activities. Maybe you’re that somebody.

Regardless, “weekend warriors” need to keep safety in mind because they are at a greater risk of injury than people who exercise during the week, according to a study from the University of Calgary.

As part of the study, researchers used the Alberta Trauma Registry to analyze the cases of 351 patients who sustained traumatic injuries while taking part in recreational sporting activities on weekends versus weekdays during a 14-year span. The majority of patients – 54.8 percent – were injured between 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Monday, researchers said. The analysis included activities such as running, soccer and tennis, although they accounted for very few traumatic injuries compared with other activities – such as rock climbing – that led to head, spine and other trauma.

One possible cause for the trend was that people who participated in rigorous weekend activities were less experienced – and more prone to incidents – than daily athletes, researchers said.

The study was published in the June issue of the Canadian Journal of Surgery.