Motocross Medical: My Experience On The Dirt Track & How I Got There
I recently had the opportunity to join the safety and medical teams at a local motocross track in Colorado. The event was a state championship two-day event, where riders as young as 4 and as old as 60 competed. This was the season's last event, so the energy was high. Racers and their families came in from around the state, bought a plot to set up camp, pulled in their RV campers and trucks loaded with 2-3 bikes, and set up camp. The community was tight-knit and everyone knew how to ride.
A goal of mine has been to work with sports like motocross and see how athletic training can play a part in the medical care for these athletes. “Action Sports” are non-traditional sports with a higher level of risk including speed, height, or an environmental aspect or exposure (1). Action sports have been previously known as “extreme sports” or “adventure sports”, however, those terms are not used as often today. As you can imagine, medical involvement in these sports is essential to the health and longevity of the athletes.
I am temporarily living in Colorado for a fellowship, and I knew this was the right place to be for exposure to action sports. I have been actively looking for events in the area, from BMX to ski and snowboarding to motocross. At the end of this post, check out a short list of pointers on how I have gotten involved with sports I’m interested in.
At 6 AM I drove into Pueblo, Colorado to start the day. Racing began at 7 AM, and I met the safety team as the morning sun peaked over the dry dirt hills. This team was made of EMTs and Paramedics who position themselves at various “high-risk” areas of the track to respond to racers who need help. Flaggers are staff members who stand at various points of the track on large platforms. They have different colored flags to warn other bikers of a racer who is down or needs medical attention. The safety team is in charge of assisting the competitors who need medical attention from the track and delivering them to on-site EMS for evaluation. All day long, there were site laps, practice runs, and a full slate of races; not many moments went without action.
When conceptualizing motocross from a safety standpoint, I defaulted to what I knew from other sports of high intensity. Although very unique, components of motocross resemble many sports we see more often, like football, gymnastics, or even running. Here are some pieces that might be helpful to consider when working a motocross event as a medical professional:
The course. Site maps are very important and discussing the areas of the course that are high risk is necessary before the competition. This guides where safety team members should be placed, where the best vantage point is, and where the medical team should have their base. A proper EAP should be in place, including where EMS will enter, who is responsible for guiding them, and where the nearest hospitals are located.
The gear. Riders wear helmets, goggles, chest protection, shoulder protection, knee pads, shin guards, and heavy boots. They also wear thick pants, long socks that often go to mid-thigh, as well as other garments. It is important to consider how to remove these safely and what best practices would be during emergencies.
Aerials. Motocross is full of aerials, which require so many different athletic variables. It is important to consider the additional injury risk that aerials impose, as well as how the impact forces during landing affect the body.
Motorcycles. The bikes can be extremely heavy (200+ pounds). If a rider falls, their leg can get caught under a bike and it can be hard to move. This can put them at risk for getting hit by others. In addition, the bikes also have hot engines. Burns are common in motocross from contact with the exhaust pipe or engine.
Injury profiles. Knowledge of the type of injuries commonly seen, as well as witnessing the mechanism of injury, will give medical professionals a great deal of insight into how to manage acute motocross injuries.
My first experience at a motocross event was eye-opening. Although I was operating as an EMT in the safety group, I noticed how advantageous athletic training would be for motocross and other sports that are often overlooked. I am excited for future events with motocross in the area and I'm eager to see how medical care can be elevated for this niche group of athletes.
How to get connected in action sports as an athletic trainer:
Odds are that starting at local levels will be your best bet. Higher-level events with higher-skilled athletes have more attention. Medical groups or individuals who cover the bigger, more professional events (X-Games, etc.) constantly have medical field students or certified individuals reaching out to shadow. If you want to get involved, start at the local spots and start meeting the people in it. The connections start flowing. This will also help you learn the ins and outs of the sport.
Sometimes you need to get on the ground and go to an event as a spectator. Finding out who or what medical group is covering a sporting event seems like an impossible feat on the internet. Truly, I have looked at marathon races, traditional sports games, and local and state competitions, and I find it extremely difficult to locate an email or number for the medical team. One weekend during a deep internet dive, I noticed a local motocross event going on at that time. I immediately closed my laptop and drove 30 minutes out to a track. After talking to a few track employees, they put me in contact with the medical team, whom I worked my first motocross event with. So at the end of the day, in-person curiosity led me to an immediate result.
Don’t be afraid to cold call/cold email and just ask questions. People who love the sport they work with, or the medical field they’re in, will pass on knowledge and advice if they can. Before reaching out to a medical professional for a favor (shadow opportunity, internship, etc), ask them if you could have a few minutes of their time for questions. Some people won’t respond, so get used to that. But some will respond and answer questions over email or will hop on a call, facetime, or Zoom. This is a great way to meet people in the field and grow your connections. But it's also a great way to show them who you are as well. If you hit it off, they might reach out down the line.
Sources
Feletti F, Bonato M. Action Sports. Encyclopedia.pub. Published December 9, 2020. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/3442
