Surfing Performance in Para Surfers with Lower-Limb Amputations: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction 

This study investigated surfing performance in surfers with transfemoral amputations (TFAs) and transtibial amputations (TTAs) who participated in international para surfing competitions. The purpose of this research was to compare surfers with lower-limb amputations with judged wave scores and surfing experience for para surfing classification efficacy.

Materials and Methods 

Collected archived data (n = 20) from classification records included demographics, residual limb lengths, surfing experiences, and judged wave scores. Continuous variables age (years), residual leg length (cm), remaining leg length (%), prior surfing experience (years), and duration of competing experience (years) were analyzed using independent sample t-test. Ordinal variables surfing performance scores of 2019 and 2020 between the groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman ρ correlation coefficient was used to determine the association between the duration of prior surfing experience and duration of competition experience with the surfing score in both groups.

Results 

Surfers with TFA with longer residual limb lengths (n = 3) and surfers with TTA (n = 14) surfed with a prosthetic leg standing. Surfers with TFA with shorter residual limb lengths (n = 3) surfed without a prosthesis kneeling. We found that para surfers who stood or kneeled with TFA performed significantly better than para surfers with TTA, reflected through judged wave scores in 2019 (P = 0.028) and 2020 (P = 0.019). No statistically significant relationship existed between para surfers with TFA who kneeled or stood. No statistically significant relationship existed between years of para surfing and judged wave scores.

Conclusions 

Surfers with TFA who stood or kneeled received higher judged wave scores than surfers with TTA; however, no other significant significance was found for TFA intragroup comparisons or prior surf experience. The data size was too small for confirmatory analysis. Results appeal to a new need for inquiry on para surfers with TFA and TTA, specifically biomechanical performance surfing differences.

Clinical Relevance 

Individuals with transfemoral and/or transtibial amputations can participate competitively in para surfing contests. Surfers with TFAs can successfully compete either standing with a prosthesis or kneeling without a prosthesis.