Playing sports is a great way to socialize with friends, stay fit and learn more about teamwork. However, many professional and amateur athletes can suffer from devastating injuries as a result of playing sports. While these injuries shouldn’t discourage anyone from being active, knowing the five most dangerous types of sports related injuries may encourage you to be safer when playing.
Fractured Vertebrae
Perhaps the worst kind of injury you can encounter in a sports setting is a fractured vertebrae. In mild cases, a fractured vertebrae could result in tingling in the extremities and perhaps an end to an athletic career in the short term. In the worst case, however, a fractured vertebrae can lead to being wheelchair bound for life. A fractured vertebrae is typically caused when an athlete lands in an awkward position after being knocked down or knocked over. This is an injury that you would probably see very common for football players.
Severe Concussion
Some statistics show that as many as three percent of high school football players, and even greater percentages at higher levels of the sport, will have a concussion at some point in any given season. This is shocking for a number of reasons, not least of which because a concussion can have lasting effects. It is important to remember than a concussion can often lead to far more than just short-term memory loss or vision: It can also lead to major cognitive issues in the future.
Broken Tibia
Breaking the tibia, also known as the shin, requires a staggering amount of direct pressure. That’s because the tibia is more than four times as strong as materials like concrete! When the strong tibia does break, recovery can take months, and in some cases athletes won’t be able to perform at their highest level ever again.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
After receiving multiple head injuries, athletes may fall victim to the degenerative disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. This disease can result in progressive dementia, and it has been associated with a number of different sports. CTE is just one reason it is so important to get personal injury help from somewhere, such as the Seattle head injury law firm, when you or your child experiences traumatic injuries such as this.
Torn ACL
One of the most common sports injuries is a torn anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. A torn ACL can happen in sports where players change direction quickly, like football and basketball. A torn ACL typically results in a year off the field and may even prevent individuals from participating in sports in the future.
Sports may be fun, but they can also lead to injuries. Staying safe, and understanding the need for recovery, can help to prevent some of the most devastating sports-related injuries.