Is track and field becoming the most dangerous sport?
July 16, 2012 | by Steven Rothrock MD
Authors of a recent article in the journal Physician and Sports Medicine examined track and field related injuries in children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years treated in US emergency departments between 1991 and 2008.1 Data was compiled from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
During the study period, there were nearly 160,000 track and field related injuries treated. The number of cases increased 36% from 7702 cases in 1991 to 10,496 cases in 2009. Boys were more likely to sustain pelvic injuries while girls had more ankle injuries. Hurdling events led to more arm and head injuries, sprinting caused more pelvis and upper leg injuries, and distance running caused more foot and lower leg injuries. Many of the injuries were due to repetitive motion or overuse and few were serious in nature.
Track and field events include sport’s running-related activities like sprinting, distance running, relay races, and hurdles. These are non-contact sports that in the past were perceived to have minimal injuries. However, as many as three quarters of all participants sustain injuries each year. The authors of this study concluded that each specific track activity requires a unique set of injury prevention procedures and training methods depending on the sex and age of the individual.
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