Millions of high school students participate in fall sports each year, and many are gearing up for the season right now. However, before you begin preparing for this season, you should ensure that your body is ready to perform to reduce the risk of injuries.
How many sports injuries occur each year?
According to Quick-advice.com, more than 3.5 million injuries occur each year in the U.S. High school sports injuries can be a major health problem and cause athletes to take a step back from the game they love.
Causes of Sports Injuries:
- a fall or tackle
- being struck by an object or another player
- collisions
- having improper gear or equipment
- playing in unsafe conditions
To participate in sports in high school, each athlete is required to pass a medical examination at least once a year. The results of sports physical determine whether it is safe for an individual to join or continue playing a specific sport. Physicals also help athletes maintain their health and reduce their risk of getting injured.
High school sports-related injuries have dramatically increased, and some injuries may happen more frequently than others depending on the sport and type of physical activity one is engaging in.
What sport has the highest fatality rate?
Baseball has the highest fatality rate among sports for children and teens ages 5 to 14. Each year, three to four children die from baseball injuries.
Click here to read more about sports injuries.
Common Injuries from Sports:
- Ankle sprain – This is the most common injury among people of all ages. However, it doesn’t necessarily result from playing sports. It can also happen while you’re walking on the street or walking downstairs. Nerveless, the problem with ankle sprains resulting from playing sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, or volleyball is that they can be more serious because of the increased force and speed at which the injury occurs.
- Concussions – Concussions in high school athletics have been increasing dramatically. A Concussion is a brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. They can have a more serious effect on young athletes who have brains that are still developing.
- Shoulder dislocation – This injury is also among the most common injuries that players can get. It often occurs when one suffers a nasty fall, a tackle in football for example, or by any other type of strong collision.
- Knee sprain – A knee sprain is very similar to an ankle sprain. This injury often is the result of an abrupt directional change or a hit to the knee area from either side of it.
- Lower back injuries – Many physically active people, especially athletes end up with common back strains. There can be many causes to back strains including obesity, poor posture, or lifting something heavy.
- Hamstring strain – A hamstring strain can be caused by stopping suddenly as well as running and jumping. Many hamstring strains are caused by failure to warm up, and poor flexibility and balance.
Athletes can take many actions before, during, and after participating in sports that can make sure they are as safe as possible when playing.
Sports Injuries Prevention:
- Don’t participate in sports until you receive a physical
- Wear all necessary protective equipment
- Understand the importance of warming up
- Follow the rules of the game
- Inform someone if you are experiencing pain, even if it is minor
- Ensure proper healing of a previous injury
Trying to prevent injuries and avoid pain can only go so far when trying to achieve your full performance.
To learn more about the most common sports injuries and how to avoid them click here.
Given the dramatic rise in sports injuries, being aware of the most common ones might reduce your risk of suffering an injury. Learning more about these injuries can also assist you in determining whether you should seek professional help and how to temporarily mend it.
Before resuming play, an athlete’s injuries should be completely healed. Depending on the injury’s severity, treatment may involve seeing a physical therapist. Our physical therapist will not only address the area of pain but also teach you how to properly care for the rest of your body, as well as ways to decrease the likelihood of future injuries.
