Introduction
Pain is always a part of the game, whether a simple twist or strain, a fracture or a concussion. This is because some sports happen to be riskier and have higher rates and severity of injuries than others due to the kind of actions and movements involved. But which sport is most higher risk, or in other words, which sport has the highest incidence of injury per capita?
Contact sports were identified as the leading cause of overall injuries.
Comparing the incidence of injuries across various sports, it has been observed that sports involving participants experiencing frequent collisions with other athletes or obstacles are hazardous.
These include:
Football
Rugby
Wrestling
Ice hockey
Lacrosse
The frequent impact on the opponent or on the ground results in severe traumatic injuries such as fractures, dislocations, sprains, and concussions. For instance, football is known to have one of the highest incidences of concussion among youth sports because of the frequent tackling.
The number of Injuries Sustained Throughout the Lifetime is Found to be Highest among Team Sports.
While extreme sports may seem the most higher risk due to speed and aerial maneuvers, most studies find that popular U. S. team sports still lead to the most lifetime injuries:
Football: Due to the frequent collisions in this sport, players of all age categories, ranging from young people to college and professional players, are most at risk of suffering injuries. Research conducted on NFL injuries revealed that every game had on average six injuries per team. Youth and high school players have been estimated to have a lifetime injury risk of more than 50%.
Women’s soccer - Various research works have revealed that female athletes are 2-5 times more likely to suffer a tear on their ACL knee ligament as compared to male athletes. Rushing soccer headers also cause concussions and possibly permanent brain damage. Studies have shown that up to 28% of college female soccer players may experience an ACL tear during their playing career.
Men’s wrestling - The physical pushing and shoving and then falling on the mat causes severe joint and ligament injuries. It is worth noting that the incidence of wrestling injuries ranges from 45 to 50 percent per year for high school and college wrestlers, respectively.
Women’s gymnastics – The stress that comes with practicing and performing flips and perfecting landing before bones reach their developmental peak results in chronic cases of ankle, knee, wrist, back, and other injuries. Numerous studies have estimated that, for college gymnasts, the rate of annual injuries may be between 60% and 66%.
Men’s basketball - Swinging, stunting, and twisting on the floor, particularly in the case of petite men, leads to sprained ankles, and falling under the basket results in knee injuries. College players experience ankle sprain at a rate of 30 percent per season.
The Most higher risk Sport of All? Bull Riding
While analyzing extreme sports and motor sports, we can distinguish one sport that is extremely higher risk– bull riding. While cultural factors and small participation numbers impact statistics, studies suggest bull riding leads to the most severe injuries per participant:
- Projected risk rate of 50 injuries per 100 bull rides
- Of the total, 25% of injuries resulted from concussions resulting from a rider getting thrown off and then stomped by the bull.
- Some of the most common accidents include Knee ligament tear, Fracture, and shoulder dislocation that may necessitate surgery
- Chances of death in accident one in 2000 trips
Nevertheless, compared to other major American team sports, a combination of a high number of youths engaging in these sports results in the highest total injuries, while bull riding is likely to produce the highest percentage of severe injuries per competitor.
Conditions that lead to high incidences of injuries
Several factors contribute to these sports standing out in rates of injury:
Technique - Games that entail close physical touching are likely to cause acute injuries more often.
Joint stress – Pivoting or landing impact make joints take a lot of stress over time.
Agility demands – Switching direction puts pressure on ankles/knees and may lead to injuries.
Previous injury – A history of prior injury, such as an ACL tear, raises reinjury risk
Lack of rest – Not taking enough time off makes existing injuries worse
The factors that make contact, agility demands, and youth participation in mainstream American team sports make them best suited to endure lifetime injury rates. While the absolute number of injuries in extreme sports may be lower, the level of skill needed to prevent inevitable accidents and wounds is brutal.
Prevention Can Be Summed Up With the Word ‘Watchfulness’
Ultimately, while some level of injury is expected in competitive sports, much can be prevented with proper precautions:
- Mandatory use of protective wear in competitions and trainings
- Closely supervising developing athletes for clues of an injury
- Encouraging neck muscles to reduce chances of getting a concussion
- Using appropriate conditioning programmes all through the year
- Calling for the cessation of competition after an injury
Those who approach training and rehab seriously prolong their time as professional athletes. Coaches and medical staff should also stress on protection as well as production when dealing with young, talented players. It may be impossible to entirely eradicate injuries, but there are wise prevention and ways of dealing with them that can decrease the risk and higher risk.
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