Sports Injury Statistics
How frequently do sports injuries occur?
In the United States, more than 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and about 3.5 million injuries occur each year, which cause some loss of time and participation. Almost one-third of all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries. By far, the most common injuries are sprains and strains. Obviously, some sports are more dangerous than others. For example, contact sports such as football can be expected to result in a higher number of injuries than a non-contact sport such as swimming. However, all types of sports have a potential for injury, whether from the trauma of contact with other players or from overuse or misuse of a body part.
Injury statistics and incidence rates:
The following statistics are the latest available from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
Injury rates:
- Approximately 3.5 million children and adolescents ages 14 and under get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.
- Although death from a sports injury is rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain injury.
- Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.
- The majority of head injuries sustained in sports or recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents.
- More than 775,000 children and adolescents ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.
Where and when:
- Playground- and bicycle-related injuries occur most often among young children, between the ages of 5 and 9 years old. Bicycle- and sports-related injuries also affect older children and adolescents, in addition to overexertion.
- The highest rates of injury occur in sports that involve contact and collisions.
- More severe injuries occur during individual sports and recreational activities.
- Most organized sports-related injuries (62 percent) occur during practice.
Who:
- More than 30 million high school children participate in organized sports.
- Children and adolescents between 5 and 14 years of age account for almost half (40 percent) of sports-related injuries for all age groups.
- More than 775,000 children participating in sports activities are injured each year, and one in four injuries is considered serious.
- Children who are less developed than a more mature child of the same age and weight are at increased risk for injury.
- Sports-related injury severity increases with age.
- Before puberty, girls suffer more sports injuries than boys.
- During puberty, boys suffer more injuries more severely than girls.
- Children who are just beginning a sport or activity are at greater risk for injury.
Types of sports and recreational activities:
Consider the following statistics:
- basketball
In 1999, nearly 194,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for basketball-related injuries.
- baseball and softball
In 1999, more than 99,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries. Baseball also has the highest fatality rate among sports for children ages 5 to 14, with three to four children dying from baseball injuries each year.
- bicycling
In 1999, more than 340,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. In addition, 203 children ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes in 1998.
- football
In 1999, more than 172,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for football-related injuries.
- gymnastics
In 1999, nearly 22,500 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for gymnastics-related injuries. Among girls' sports, gymnastics has one of the highest injury rates, increasing with the level of competition.
- ice skating
In 1999, more than 16,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice skating-related injuries.
- in-line skating/roller skating
Since 1992, 37 children ages 14 and under have died from in-line skating injuries, mostly from collisions with motor vehicles. In 1999, nearly 58,600 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for in-line skating-related injuries. In 1999, nearly 27,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for roller-skating-related injuries.
- skateboarding
 In 1999, more than 32,200 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries.
- sledding
In 1999, nearly 14,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for sledding-related injuries.
- snow skiing/snowboarding
In 1999, more than 16,300 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries. Another 19,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snowboarding-related injuries.
- soccer
In 1999, approximately 81,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.
- trampolines
In 1999, more than 78,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries. Most trampoline injuries occur at home (90 percent) and involve injury to a child's extremities.
More Information
Schneider Children's
Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine
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