Burden of Sport Injuries in the European Union - Safety in Sports

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6 | February 2012
There are also substantial differences in the preferences of age groups (table/figure
10). Gymnastics with appliances are dominated by children, probably because these
are commonly practiced in schools, but much less attractive (or available) for adults.
Racquet sports seem to be much less practiced by children, adolescents and young
adults than by the older generations (table/figure 11).
Individual athletic activities
Racquet sports
Combative sports
Individual water sports
Equestrian activities
Wheeled non-motored sports
Ice or snow sports
Team bat or stick sports
Gymnastics with appliances
Team ball sports
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Table/figure 11: Top 10 type of sports by age-group of injury victims
The knowledge of the specific injury patterns for each type of sport is important to
know in order to adequately address the issue of personal protection equipment in
sports. Table/figure 12 ranks the main type of sports by their share of head injuries.
In fact, head injuries comprise various types of injuries, from cuts which are quite
frequent in squash to brain damage due to lack of oxygen, which is common in neardrowning.
Sport helmet protect in particular from traumatic brain injuries due to
severe blows. While helmets are well established e.g. in ice-hockey, cycling and
horseback-riding, they are much less accepted in squash, and unknown in soccer and
basketball.
0-14
15-24
25-59
60+