Risks of Bungee Jumping

Since 1987, more than two million people have bungee jumped, according to Medstudents.com. In 1992 there were five deaths and four critical injuries reported due to bungee jumping, but the site warns there is a lack of date to determine just how dangerous the sport may be. Age, weight, equipment and personal skills are some of the factors to take into account when assessing why a jumper was injured.

  1. The Jump

    • Medstudents.com divides the bungee jump into three parts. First, there's the free fall, in which jump stress hormones are released, a feeling of exhilaration that could last for days. Second is body deceleration, the intensity of which depends on the kind of cord used and the jump's altitude. Third is the upward movement, usually in a head-down position.

    Minor Injuries

    • Some of the minor injuries that can result from a bungee jump include contusions, pinched fingers and cord burns to the body, according to Medstudents.com.

    Head injuries

    • Among the more serious head injuries are reported is damage to the eye, including the retina, fovea, macula and internal limiting membrane. This is caused by the body's deceleration, as blood and fluid pressure increase in the eye, according to. The result, usually, is temporary vision impairment. Spots in the eye and a temporary blind spot can also result, as can nasal injuries. The most fatal event involving the head is strangulation, usually caused when the cord gets tangled with the jumper.

    Torso Injuries

    • Shoulder and back injuries include dislocations and soft tissue damage. The spine is at risk during a bungee jump, though they are few in number, according to medstudents.com. Jumpers have reported compression fractures to the cervical spine and quadriplegia. Tenderness of the C5 vertebra and a decreased range of motion have been reported. Injuries to the C2, C3, C5, C6 and C7 vertebra have resulted in minor loss of range of motion in several areas, including the arms, hands and back.

    Lower body injuries

    • Medstudents.com reports that one of the more common results of bungee jumping in the lower extremities is a peroneal, or fibular, nerve injury. The injury can lead to a feeling as if the jumper's leg, foot or ankle has gone to sleep. This injury can also lead to weakness of the foot.