 Yale
Sports Medicine Center Prevention of Athletic Injuries |
The risk of injury accompanies participation in almost all sporting activities. It was estimated that two out of three runners and as many as 50 percent of high school football (American) players are injured each year. Time magazine conducted a poll among various age groups and estimated that 75 percent of people who jog will experience an injury serious enough to curtail their exercise program for seven days every year. As the number of participants in both competitive and recreational sports has increased, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of injuries. Athletic injuries can have profound , long lasting effects on athletes. Injuries, particularly those not properly cared for, may develop into conditions that can last a lifetime. Some of these conditions are chronic Tennis Elbow, Runner's Knee or osteoarthritis.
Most sports injuries are caused by one or more of the following factors:
- Inadequate preparticipation screening
- Poor coaching or coaching error
- Inadequate conditioning
- Improper equipment use or fit
- Inadequate or poorly maintained facilities
- Athlete's psychosocial problems
- Inadequate first aid care
- Inadequate rehabilitation
- Premature return to participation after injury
Except for such unforeseen circumstances such as injuries that occur from high forces generated in athletics (broken bones, dislocated joints), the athlete or those responsbile for the athlete's health training can reduce the risk of injury from any of these nine factors.
