Epidemiology and Prevention of Sports Injuries

International Olympic Committee consensus statement on the health and fitness of young people through physical activity and sport

“…To promote PA effectively, the IOC acknowledges the need to care for the health problems of the active patient. This not only involves providing effective care for the injured patient, but also developing and promoting injury prevention measures actively 131. In 2010, the first Youth Olympic Games was held in Singapore emphasising culture, education and sports in 14–18-year-old athletes.…”

What is the economic burden of sports injuries?

“…[10] sPoRts injuRies Sports injury ranks among the major public health problems because of its important social and economic burden for society. In order to understand the seriousness of a sports injury, Bahr [11] offer six criteria for physicians--nature of sports injuries; diagnosis, duration and nature of the treatment; sports time lost when injured; working or school time lost; permanent disability; and cost of injury.…”

Why is Injury Prevention in Sports Important?

“…Epidemiological studies show that of injuries seen by a physician, in Scandinavia, every sixth is sustained during sporting activity (Bahr et al, 2002). Among children, every third hospital-treated injury is the result of sports participation (Bahr et al, 2002).…”

“…Epidemiological studies show that of injuries seen by a physician, in Scandinavia, every sixth is sustained during sporting activity (Bahr et al, 2002). Among children, every third hospital-treated injury is the result of sports participation (Bahr et al, 2002). During 1997 and1998, in the United States, annually there were an estimated 3.7 million sports-and recreation-related emergency department visits annually in the United States, representing approximately 11% of all injury related emergency department visits; 2.6 million visits were among persons aged 5-24 years.…”