Skateboard groups are an American staple. Young teens in kneepads and helmets (sometimes, none at all) take a risk by doing amazing stunts with their boards, from midair flips to grinding. Constant practice created legends like Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, and Ryan Sheckler; but they're not exempted from the risks that come with the sport.
Of the thousands of skateboard injuries recorded
every year, more than half of them happen to children under 15, according to
the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The injuries can range from cuts
and bruises to torn ligaments and twisted ankles. Tony Hawk's injuries over the
course of his career, in fact, has already forced him to consider retirement.
