A new study finds injuries from trampolines have soared in recent years as the number of trampoline parks has increased, although the group representing the industry said it is important to put those figures in context.

The study, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that the number of U.S. emergency room visits after injuries sustained at trampoline parks rose from 581 in 2010 to 6,981 in 2014. Patients from trampoline parks were more likely to be male and have an average age of 13. Their injuries frequently involved lower extremity sprains and fractures, although serious injuries included open fractures and spinal cord injuries.

"While most trampoline injuries occur at home—with an average of 91,750 emergency room visits per year from 2010 to 2014—those numbers did not vary over the study period as opposed to the rise in park-related injuries," the study's authors wrote.

The authors pointed out the number of trampoline parks rose from about 30 to 40 in the U.S. in 2011 to 280 three years later. The academy recommends against letting children use trampolines, but if they do, then it suggests adult supervision, only allowing one child on at a time, adequate padding, and avoiding flips and somersaults. http://bit.ly/2aKhSwL

The International Association of Trampoline Parks welcomed the AAP study, but said it lacked some important context in failing to note that more than 50 million people visited trampoline parks in North America last year alone.

"If the AAP study reported trampoline park injuries as a percentage, rather than a total, a more accurate industry picture would develop," the association said in a statement. "As a point of reference, high school football players experience injuries at a rate of 3.87 per 1,000 exposures. The rate of reportable injury at a typical trampoline park is less than one per 10,000 jumpers. Therefore, the rate at which injuries occur is a much more meaningful statistic than total number of injuries."

The association acknowledged that an increase in trampoline parks would result in an increase in injuries. However, it added that "the positives of youth recreational sports far outweigh the negatives and we are actively engaged in programs aimed at promoting the safety and well-being of jumpers who visit our member parks." http://bit.ly/2arYTm7

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