Which school sports cause the most injuries? (2024)

Football

Football is the sport that causes the most injuries, with an estimated 455,449 annually. Despite all the padding and support players have, football has been the cause of a plethora of injuries, one of the most common being knee injuries.

Most common football knee injury: ACL rupture

Of all the knee injuries experienced due to football, the most common is a rupture of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). The most common symptoms are swelling, loss of range of motion, tenderness in the joint line, and discomfort while walking. The injury can subside on its own based on the severity of the tear, but if symptoms become severe or persist after 24 hours of rest, we recommend going to see a sports medicine physician.

What is the ACL?

The ACL is the place where three bones—the tibia, femur, and patella, also known as the shinbone, thighbone, and kneecap—meet to form your knee. An ACL rupture is when a tear occurs in the muscle and often creates pain and swelling.

Soccer

This internationally beloved sport is well-known for its injuries, but most commonly, the concussions caused by the high-speed balls flying towards players’ heads.

Most common injury: concussions/TBI (traumatic brain injury)

Soccer is estimated to cause around 412,607 injuries (in both male and female players) a year, and a projected 22% of these injuries are concussions. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), more commonly known as concussions, are usually caused by trauma to the head (often by a heavy item or a hard fall). This injury is identifiable through persistent headaches, nausea/vomiting, blurry vision, and dizziness. Upon recognizing these symptoms, the patient should be taken to an emergency room as soon as possible.

Basketball

Basketball is one of the most popular sports worldwide and another one of the most dangerous sports, causing around 169,904 injuries a year. Because of the need for rapid hand movement, jammed fingers are one of the most commonly seen injuries in this sport.

Most common basketball injury: jammed fingers/sprains

Jammed fingers occur when the tip of the finger is compressed towards the hand, resulting in a sprain. The symptoms of this injury are very similar to those of other sprains: swelling, bruising, pain with pressure, and limited range of motion. Because the hands are a sensitive part of the body, we recommend that you see a sports medicine specialist as quickly as possible after the injury occurs.

Sprains are very commonly confused with breaks, as the sensation and symptoms are similar. However, there are some critical differences between breaks and sprains, explained by our very own Edward Brooke Roberts, MD, a Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group sports medicine physician in Pasadena.

Which school sports cause the most injuries? (2024)

FAQs

What school sport has the most injuries? ›

Basketball, football and soccer have the most injuries overall, but the number of injuries varies with each age group. Football is the most dangerous sport for children ages 5-14, while basketball has the highest number of injuries among people ages 15-24.

Which sport causes the most injuries? ›

Football. Football is the sport that causes the most injuries, with an estimated 455,449 annually.

What is the most common cause of school sports injuries? ›

Sports injuries are commonly caused by overuse, direct impact, or the application of force that is greater than the body part can structurally withstand. Common injuries include bruises, sprains, strains, joint injuries and nose bleeds.

What is the most common injury in high school sports? ›

By far the most common injuries are sprains and strains.

What sport do kids get hurt in the most? ›

One-third of childhood injuries occur in sports

While injuries can happen in any sport, they are especially common in competitive team sports such as football, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, baseball and softball, as well as in activities involving repetitive movements, such as cheerleading, dance and gymnastics.

What are the 3 most common injuries in school? ›

The Seven Most Common School and Daycare Injuries
  • School and Daycare Injury Statistics. School and daycare injuries might be more common than you would think. ...
  • Unintentional Strangulation. ...
  • Fractures. ...
  • Head Injuries. ...
  • Internal Injuries. ...
  • Lacerations and Contusions. ...
  • Joint Dislocation. ...
  • Sprains & Strains.

What is the number 1 injury in sports? ›

1. Strains. Strains are by far the most common of all sports-related injuries simply because we use so many muscles and tendons when we exercise or play. These moving parts are all susceptible to stretching farther than they should, or moving in ways they shouldn't move, leaving them torn, damaged and in pain.

What are the top 5 sports injuries? ›

Sports injuries Ernat sees most are:
  • Muscle and tendon strains.
  • Ligament sprains.
  • Bone fractures.
  • Tendinopathies.
  • Concussions.
Nov 5, 2021

What activities cause the most injuries? ›

Sports & Physical Activities That Cause the Most Injuries
  • Bicycling: 425,910 injuries.
  • Using exercise equipment: 377,939 injuries.
  • Skateboards, scooters, hoverboards: 217,646 injuries.
  • Basketball: 214,847 injuries.
  • Swimming: 129,708 injuries.
  • Football: 122,181 injuries.
  • Playground equipment: 120,829 injuries.
Nov 29, 2022

What are the main causes of accidents at school? ›

Common causes of accidents at schools include:
  • Bullying and assaults. Both bullying and fighting are common at school, and a school cannot be held responsible for every conflict. ...
  • Slip and fall accidents. ...
  • School bus accidents. ...
  • Playground accidents. ...
  • Food poisoning. ...
  • Sports activities.

What are the common injuries that may happen in school? ›

Fractures of the upper and lower limbs and intracranial injury represented more than three-quarters of all injury. The two leading causes of injury, falls, and incidents involving striking against or being struck by a person or object, represented 89% of all incidents.

What is the most common cause of severe injury and death in school age children? ›

Accidents (unintentional injuries) are, by far, the leading cause of death among children and teens.

What are the top 3 injuries in sports? ›

The most common sports injuries are: Sprains and strains. Knee injuries. Swollen muscles.

What are the top 10 most common sports injuries? ›

Top 10 Most Common Sports Injuries
  1. Patellofemoral Syndrome. The majority of sports injuries involve the lower body, particularly knee injuries.
  2. Shoulder Injury. ...
  3. Tennis or Golf Elbow. ...
  4. Hamstring Strain. ...
  5. Sciatica. ...
  6. Shin Splints. ...
  7. Groin Pull. ...
  8. Concussion. ...

What activity has the highest injury rate? ›

Though often regarded as mundane, going to the gym leads to the most injuries of any of the activities in our study.
...
Key findings:
RankSporting activity% of injuries that resulted in hospitalization
1Horseback riding14.6%
2ATV's, mopeds, minibikes, etc.13.3%
3Racquet sports11.9%
4Bicycles8.8%
1 more row
Sep 18, 2019

Which sport is safest for kids? ›

There is also some moderate concern about concussion risk from heading the ball, but not nearly as much as with collision sports such as football. But relatively speaking, soccer remains one of the safer sports for children and teens.

Which sport has the least injuries? ›

Swimming is the safest sport to take part in. Its easy on the joints and can be an aid in recovery after an injury so making it the safest sport in America. A study by researchers at The University of Colorado Denver lead by PhD.

What are the 4 main causes of injuries? ›

Why do workplace injuries occur? The 5 most common causes of workplace accidents
  • 1) Overexertion and tiredness. Most types of physical activity will become tiring if they are carried out over a long period of time. ...
  • 2) Slips, trips and falls. ...
  • 3) Distractions. ...
  • 4) Messy work environments. ...
  • 5) Cutting corners.
May 22, 2019

What are the top 5 causes of injuries? ›

Top 5 causes of workplace injuries
  • material handling: 32% of claims.
  • slips, trips and falls: 16%
  • being struck by or colliding with an object: 10%
  • incidents involving tools: 7%, and.
  • traumas occurring over time such as when a body part is injured by overuse or strain: 4%.
May 23, 2016

What are the two most common types of injury for school staff? ›

Here are three surprisingly common injuries that teachers should watch out for as they head back to school:
  • Slips, Trips & Falls. If you've ever been to a school, you know that wet, slick floors are a normal part of a teacher's workplace environment. ...
  • Repetitive Motion Injuries. ...
  • Crushing Injuries.
Aug 4, 2021

What sport has the highest head injury rate? ›

#1.

Football is where most high school concussions happen by a wide margin. About half of those concussions in high school football occur during running plays. About 31% occur when a player is being tackled by another player, and 23% happen to a player as he tackles an opponent.

What is the easiest sport to get injured? ›

According to 2019 statistics, basketball causes the most injuries compared to any other team sport. Young people and adults who play basketball are exposed to various injuries including fractures, facial injuries, deep thigh bruises, ankle sprains and knee injuries.

Does cheerleading have the most injuries? ›

High school cheerleaders will experience an average of 3.8 injuries throughout their career, while college-level athletes will suffer an average of 3.5 injuries. Overall, football and cheerleading have the highest incidence of fatal injuries and accidents.

What is the top 10 sport in the world? ›

10 Most played sports around the world
  • Volleyball. According to research, there are approximately 800 million people who play volleyball at least once a week worldwide. ...
  • Basketball. ...
  • Table Tennis. ...
  • Football/Soccer. ...
  • Badminton. ...
  • Field Hockey. ...
  • Cricket. ...
  • Tennis.

What is the hardest sport top 5? ›

According to Sports Virsa, the top 10 hardest sports in the world to play in 2022 are as follows: Boxing (hardest), American football, mixed martial arts, ice hockey, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, wrestling, rugby, and water polo.

What are the 7 most common sports injuries? ›

Top 7 Most Common Sport Injuries
  1. Knee Injury. About 55% of sports injuries occur in the knee. ...
  2. ACL Tear. Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is responsible for connecting your thigh to your shinbone at your knee. ...
  3. Tennis or Golf Elbow. ...
  4. Shin Splints. ...
  5. Groin Pull. ...
  6. Sciatica. ...
  7. Hamstring Strain.

What is the number one cause of injury? ›

The top three leading causes of preventable injury-related death – poisoning, motor vehicle, and falls – account for over 86% of all preventable deaths.

Does basketball have more injuries than football? ›

After extensive research, our team has found that Basketball is the most dangerous sport in the US, with 2,823 injuries sustained in 2021 – 64% more than American Football.

What are the main causes of injuries? ›

What causes injury?
  • road crashes (external site)
  • suicide and self-harm (external site)
  • falls (external site)
  • drowning (external site)
  • poisoning (external site)
  • violence (external site)
  • burns and scalds (external site)

How do children get hurt at school? ›

If your child is injured playing sports, concussions, bone fractures, sprains, strains, bruises, and cuts are possible. Playground injuries are similar with head injuries, sprains, cuts, and bruises all being typical. Inside a school, a child may slip and fall, trip, or become the target of a bully.

Which of the following is the leading cause of injury for primary school? ›

Leading causes of child unintentional injury include motor vehicle crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls. Child injury is often preventable.

What are the causes of students failure at school? ›

School failure can occur as a result of emotional issues, mental health problems, learning disorders, and inability to meet the standards the school sets.

How common are injuries in school sports? ›

High school athletes alone account for an estimated 2 million injuries as well as 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year.

What is the most common type of injury involving the youth that you always? ›

Falls: The most common cause of injury for kids of all ages. Falls are the leading cause of injury among children. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that roughly 8,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for fall-related injuries every day.

What are the most serious problems in schools? ›

School Problems
  • Tardiness, skipping class, truancy.
  • Disrespecting teachers.
  • Drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Acting out.
  • Sleeping in class.
  • Difficulty with schoolwork or homework.
  • Possessing a weapon at school.
  • Difficulty with teachers.

What is the #1 killer of children? ›

Firearms recently became the number one cause of death for children in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.

What are the top 10 injuries for children? ›

Josh Wyatt, MD, offered advice on prevention, first aid tips and when to seek care for the 10 most common injuries in children.
  • Drowning. ...
  • Fractures. ...
  • Gun injuries. ...
  • Ingestion: Poison control, magnets, coins and other items. ...
  • Car injuries: Car accidents and hot cars. ...
  • Sun burn. ...
  • Wounds: Small cuts, scratches and other lacerations.
Jul 26, 2021

What are the 3 most common childhood injuries? ›

Car crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls are some of the most common ways children are hurt or killed. The number of children dying from injury dropped nearly 30% over the last decade.

What 5 sports cause the most injuries? ›

7 Sports Most Likely to Cause Injuries
  • Keep Your Family Safe When Playing Sports. ...
  • Basketball causes the most injuries. ...
  • Football injuries are common in teens. ...
  • Soccer contact and collisions are common. ...
  • Ice hockey causes the most concussions. ...
  • Cheerleading is a contact sport, too. ...
  • Baseball and softball have risks.

What is the safest high school sport? ›

This research has identified some of the safer sports for high school students.
  • Swimming. The safest sport for both male and female student athletes turns out to be swimming. ...
  • Cheerleading. ...
  • Volleyball. ...
  • Track. ...
  • Baseball. ...
  • Girls' gymnastics. ...
  • Boys' Basketball. ...
  • Girls' Lacrosse.

What is the easiest sport ever? ›

The 7 Easiest Sports to Play
  • Table Tennis/Ping Pong.
  • Running.
  • Spikeball.
  • Badminton.
  • Cycling.
  • Volleyball.
  • Bowling.

What sport is the easiest on the body? ›

Low Impact Sports That Won't Injure your Joints
  • Swimming. The water supports your body weight and takes pressure off your joints. ...
  • Rowing or kayaking. When you row or paddle, the movement is cyclical and puts very little impact on your joints. ...
  • Road cycling or mountain biking. ...
  • Bowling. ...
  • Golf. ...
  • Yoga.

When should you quit a sport? ›

In Over Your Head? 6 Signs it's Time to Quit Your Sport To Preserve Your Mental Health
  • You no longer love your sport. ...
  • You don't think of yourself as anything other than an athlete. ...
  • You're anxious or depressed. ...
  • You have an injury that makes playing painful or difficult. ...
  • You're at risk of failing out of school.
Aug 26, 2022

What is the most difficult sport in high school? ›

In the poll, athletes, non-athletes, and teachers voted wrestling as the most difficult high school sport with 37.5 percent (80 votes) of the votes. “It takes a good mental mentality,” junior Isaiah Blackwell said.

What is the least contact sport? ›

IV. Types: Non Contact and Strenuous Sports
  • Running.
  • Rowing.
  • Sailing.
  • Swimming.
  • Tennis,
  • Weight lifting.
  • Field events (Shot put, Discus, Javelin)
Nov 30, 2022

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