National Spinal Unit: While participating in equestrian events can lead to an Olympic gold, it can also be hazardous, particularly for the spine, when things go wrong.
Latest figures show equestrian sports accounted for the majority of sports- related spinal injuries treated at the National Spinal Injuries Unit over the past 10 years.
Some 213 patients were admitted to the national unit at Dublin's Mater Hospital with sports-related spinal injuries between 1993 and 2003 and, according to orthopaedic surgeon Ms Sinead Boran, the main sports responsible for "spinal compromise" were equestrian sports.
Around 44 per cent of those who presented with sports-related spinal injury sustained the injury from participating in equestrian sports.
Some 16 per cent sustained their injury while playing rugby, 15 per cent while diving and 14 per cent while playing Gaelic games.
Ms Boran pointed out, however, that most of those who had to be treated were amateur sportsmen.
"They were usually amateurs who would not have taken the precautions they should have, such as not using proper back supports for equestrian events," she said.
About 80 per cent of those treated were men under the age of 40 years.
Sports-related injuries accounted for about 13 per cent of all admissions to the unit over the period under review. This was within the expected range, Ms Boran said.
"The message is that sport is an important cause of spinal injury in Ireland but it tends to be among amateurs.
"Sports coaches and team doctors should be educated about safe practices and management should these terrible incidents happen," she said.
She added that almost one-third of those who had to be treated were left with neurological problems, ranging from minor sensory deficit to total paralysis.
Those most likely to have sustained neurological damage were amateur rugby players and divers, according to Ms Boran.
"The divers included young people diving into shallow lakes with alcohol on board usually," she said.
"The rugby people we saw tended to be those who had not played for a few years and were a bit rusty," she added.
The 10-year review, by Ms Boran and a number of her colleagues, is just one of a wide range of studies to be presented at the 29th Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium due to take place in Galway later this week.