AI Image
Longtime surfers are being diagnosed with this strange condition
NewsNation • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers at UC Irvine have identified a condition called "liposurfomas," benign fatty growths on the chests of longtime surfers caused by repetitive low-intensity trauma from contact with surfboards during prone paddling.
- These growths primarily affect shortboard surfers and can be mistaken for cancer, potentially leading to unnecessary medical testing and treatment.
- Liposurfomas tend to increase in size with continued surfing but can be treated through liposuction, surgical removal, or managed by using wetsuits with foam padding to reduce discomfort.
- The condition is distinct from "surfer’s knots," which are hard, fibrotic masses typically found on lower extremities due to knee paddling on longboards.
- Most older, experienced surfers are familiar with these soft, symmetric chest growths, highlighting the condition's prevalence within the surfing community.
