What Activities Present the Greatest Risk of Sports-Related Brain Injuries?

Participating in sports can be a great way to stay in shape, but there are also inherent risks of injury. Some of the most common injuries reported by athletes some sports-related brain injuries.

Estimates show that each year, more than 400,000 athletes receive medical treatment for blows to the head. Athletes playing certain sports account for a disproportionate number of these injuries:

• Cycling- More than 85,000 brain injuries were linked to riding bicycles, with more than 40,000 of those injuries being suffered by children or teens.
• Football- Almost 47,000 amateur and professional football players suffered blows to the head that required treatment during 2009.
• Basketball- According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, a total of 34,692 head injuries were suffered by basketball players.
• Soccer- As many as 24,184 athletes were injured during a soccer match.
• Cheerleading- Cheerleading is perhaps the newest sport where head injuries are a serious risk. As many as 36.5 percent of cheerleading accidents result in a head injury. During the 2010-11 school year alone, cheerleaders suffered 1579 concussions, 479 contusions, and 16 skull or neck fractures.

If you or a loved one play sports, the legal staff at HensonFuerst urge you to encourage safety on the sports field at all times. This means always wearing the necessary safety equipment and practicing good technique when making contact with others who are playing. If you suspect you’ve suffered a brain injury during play, seek medical attention immediately.

We hope this information helps to prevent sports-related brain injuries from occurring in the future.