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Sports- and Recreation-Related Injuries
What's the Problem?
As people's participation in organized sport
activity increases, so does the rate of sports-related injuries.
Recreational activities, including sports, account for an
estimated 3.2 million visits to emergency rooms each year
for children aged 5-14 years. Injuries from organized and
unorganized sports account for 775,000 emergency room visits
annually for children in this same age group. Sports-related
injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits
in 12-17-year-olds.
Who's at Risk?
Because playing sports involves a certain
amount of risk, those who play are at a higher risk for
sports-related injuries. Twice as many males as females
suffer sports-related injuries. This is due, in part, to
the types of sports males and females play. Collision or
contact sports have higher injury rates - football, basketball,
baseball and soccer account for about 80% of all sports-related
emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years
of age. While teens and young adults experience injuries
related to the force they can generate and the intensity
of play, children in this age group are less proficient
at assessing risks and have less coordination, slower reaction
times and less accuracy than adults. Children between 5
and 14 years old account for almost 40% of all sports-related
injuries.
When it comes to recreational activities,
another group "at risk" for injuries includes
adults who have been "out of practice" for a particular
sport or are not accustomed to physical activity. Adults
sometimes overestimate their abilities to undertake a new
exercise program and push themselves to the point of injury.
Can It Be Prevented?
Estimates suggest that half of all childhood
sports-related injuries can be prevented, and steps can
be taken to reduce risks in all types of recreational activities:
- To avoid unnecessary injuries, all children
and adolescents should have a physical exam before starting
new sports activities. Adults who have certain chronic
diseases and adults who are at risk for chronic conditions
(including men over age 40 and women over age 50), should
consult with a physician before undertaking a new exercise
activity.
- Participate in activities that are supervised by an experienced
or trained coach who understands and enforces game rules.
- If starting a new exercise program, set realistic goals
and start with frequencies and intensities appropriate to
your current physical condition (based on consultation with
your physician) and injury-history.
- Ensure that playing fields and environments are safe and
well-maintained (e.g. well-maintained playing fields free
of tripping hazards, holes, exposed sprinklers, broken glass).
- Make sure you are properly outfitted for the sport in
which you plan to participate - proper protective gear (helmet,
shin guards, knee pads); shoes that fit well and are appropriate
for the sport; clothing that is not too loose so it won't
become tangled. In some sports, mouth guards and face protection
can help prevent traumas to the face, head, eyes, and mouth,
which are among the most common types of injuries.
- Stretch and warm-up before playing.
- Do not "play through" pain. If you are injured,
see your doctor. Follow all the doctor's orders for recovery,
and get the doctor's OK before returning to play. Playing
again too soon can lead to a more serious and long-lasting
injuries.
- Have a first aid kit available at all times.
- Learn skills to prevent injuries specific to your sport
(e.g. learn how to safely stop or fall while inline skating).
- For children's team sports, be sure to match and group
children based on skill level, weight and physical maturity
- especially for contact sports.
To read the rest
of this excellent article on sports- and recreation-related
injuries, produced by the CDC, please click here: http://www.cdc.gov/healthmarketing/entertainment_education/tips/sports.htm
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