Surfers must ‘ear’ this
Sports scientist drills down into bony issue plaguing water lovers
GOLD Coast boardriders could be suffering from “surfer’s ear” that’s so bad bony growths need to be surgically drilled out – and not even know it.
Just how many might need surgery and how to spot the condition, called exostoses, is what researcher Dr Vini Simas is trying to find out through a new study at Bond University’s Water Based Research Centre.
The Brazilian sports scientist and general practitioner is calling for Gold Coast surfers to help with a study to learn how many people have the condition which can cause balance problems, a loss of hearing and chronic ear infections.
“It’s abnormal growth of bone on the eardrum caused by exposure to cold air and wind,” Dr Simas said.
“When it starts to grow it’s believed (the bone) is trying to protect the membrane.”
At the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast earlier this year, he assessed 10 top male and five top female surfers and found every one of them suffered from it.
“A lot of the guys had no idea they had the condition, but all of them have it,” he said.
Some elite surfers even had a 67-100 per cent obstruction of their ear canal.
“Some even had it at severe grades that would indicate surgery,” he said.
“To fix it, you have to go under the skin and drill the brain.”
A Victorian study reported that 78 per cent of male surfers and 69 per cent of female surfers had some degree of the disease.
While the condition is said to be more common in cooler climates, Dr Simas said no one knew how prevalent “surfer’s ear” was in Gold Coast waters, which are usually above 19C.
Dr Simas is calling for about 100 volunteers for his study.
To find out if you have “surfer’s ear”, contact Dr Simas at Bond University’s Water Based Research Unit: facebook.com/WaterBased ResearchUnit/