Track and Field Power-Up | Page 13

The article “is track and field becoming the most dangerous sport?” they are finding that there is a dramatic increase in track and field related injuries. Most of these injuries were a result of overuse and repetition in a range of people from ages ten to eighteen years old. However, there were only few severe cases, but most could have been preventable by several injury prevention procedures. Even though track and field is a non-contact sport they found that at least three quarters of participants have undergone some form of injury.

In track and field there are many forms of injuries like shin splints and runner’s knee, but compared to injuries an athlete could potentially get in other (contact) sports, such as football, rugby and hockey, they are not that severe. A track and field athlete is not as likely to get a concussion, or several for that matter. Athletes in contact sport are more likely to suffer the rest of their lives due to an injury to their head, spine or torn ligament. Yes these cases are not as frequent as the number of track and field injuries, but they are much more severe. Track and field athletes are also more likely to recover fully through exercises and lower intensity training, but contact sport athletes cannot do anything to fix the damage they have done to their brain. In conclusion, track and field is not becoming the most dangerous sport, but maybe the just the most injury prone.

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