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.