Bell ringers' bruises and broken bones: capers and crises in campanology.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the incidence, aeriology, and outcome of injuries due to bell ringing. DESIGN--Retrospective review of the last six years'' issues of Ringing World, advertisement in Ringing World, and a postal questionnaire sent to 20 active ringing towers. SUBJECTS--Regular bell ringers. RESULTS--Seventy nine injuries were identified both from review and by advertisement in Ringing World. The incidence of injury among 221 ringers identified by postal questionnaire was 1.8% a year. CONCLUSION--Although sonerous, bell ringing can be dangerous and occasionally even fatal. Doctors should be aware of the dangers to which campanologists expose themselves.