Is Any Sport Safe?
According to a study in the Sept. 8, 1999, Journal of American Medical Association, there are 62, 816 mild traumatic brain injuries/concussions each year. These injuries result from competition in: baseball, football, and wrestling for boys, and field hockey, softball, and volleyball for girls. The mutual sports of basketball and soccer were also included.
The following is a breakdown of the injury related to the sport.
Football
- 63.4 percent of all reported concussions were related to football
- The number of concussions during games was 11 times higher than during practice.
- Most injuries were associated with tackling or being tackled
Wrestling
- 10.5 percent of all reported concussions were related to wrestling.
- The number of concussions during matches was 3.1 times higher than during practice.
- Most concussions were suffered during takedowns or attempted takedowns.
Basketball
- 4.2 percent of all reported concussions were related to boys’ basketball and 5.2 percent were related to girls’ basketball.
- Concussions occurred more often during games than practice: 4.9 times more often in boys’ games compared to practice; 6.1 times more often in girls’ games compared to practice
- Collisions between players accounted for most concussions. Girls also suffered concussions during rebounding
Soccer
- 5.7 percent of all reported concussions were related to boys’ soccer and 6.2 percent were related to girls’ soccer.
- In boys’ soccer, the injury rate was 16.2 times higher during games than during practices; in girls’ soccer, it was 14.4 times higher during games than during practices.
- Forwards and halfbacks suffered most of the concussions
Baseball and Softball
- 1.2 percent of all reported concussions were related to boys’ baseball; 2.1 percent were related to girls’ softball.
- Most baseball and softball-related concussions occurred when players collided with other players, although concussions were also sustained by players from collisions with a bat, during sliding, and from being hit by a pitch
Field Hockey
- 1.1 percent of all reported concussions were related to girls’ field hockey.
- Games had concussion rates 14.4 times higher than practices.
- Concussions occurred from being hit with a hockey stick or ball, and collisions with other players
Volleyball
- 0.5 percent of all reported concussions were related to girls’ volleyball.
- Concussions occurred from being hit with a ball, collisions with other players, and while “digging.”
________________________________________________________________
| Title: |
Is Any Sport Safe? |
| Author: |
|
| Publisher: |
HealthSouth Sports Medicine: America Sports Medicine Institute |
| Source: |
Sports Medicine Update (Birmingham, Ala.) |
| Volume (Issue): |
16(2) |
| Date: |
2002 |
| Page: |
19 |
| SIRC Article #: |
S-854772 |
This material has been copied under license from the Publisher. Any resale for profit or further copying is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us
