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Abstract
Many factors have contributed to the increasing risk of sustaining a catastrophic injury in sports and recreation that has occurred in most countries. Greater involvement in high-risk activities, more aggressive play and advanced technology have increased the speed and force of collisions in team sports such as hockey and football, and in individual recreational activities such as snowmobiling or driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). There is also more public attention and greater participation in extreme manoeuvres in risky activities such as snowboarding, BMX and mountain bicycling, and paragliding. Thrill seekers are stimulated to attempt stunts and actions for which they are often untrained and unskilled. In some high-risk activities, alcohol, drugs and superficial media portrayal overcome or cloud the normal instinct towards risk aversion and self-protection. Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries are very costly in terms of grief, disappointment and financial burden for the participants, families and societies. The purpose of this article is to describe the problem of increased participation in an increasing array of risky sports and recreation activities and to offer some strategies for reducing the risk of catastrophic injury. Further research is required to identify and mitigate risk. It is also important for individuals and for societies to develop and propagate effective injury prevention strategies.
Notes
1 CitationSpinks and McClure, ‘Quantifying the Risk of Sports Injury’, 548–557; discussion, 557.
2 CitationLord, Tator, and Wells, ‘Examining Ontario Deaths Due to All-Terrain Vehicles’, 343–349; CitationAckery et al. , ‘An International Review of Head and Spinal Cord Injuries’, 368–375.
3 CitationTator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation.
4 CitationEmery, ‘Risk Factors for Injury in Child and Adolescent Sport’, 256–268; Fuller, ‘Managing the Risk of Injury in Sport’, 182–87. CitationFuller and Drawer, ‘The Application of Risk Management in Sport’, 349–356; CitationHopkins et al. , ‘Risk Factors and Risk Statistics for Sports Injuries’, 208–210; CitationMeeuwisse et al. , ‘A Dynamic Model of Etiology in Sport Injury’, 215–219.
5 CitationMueller, ‘Catastrophic Sports Injuries’, 57–58.
6 CitationBoden et al. , ‘Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injuries’, 1223–1232; CitationCantu and Mueller, ‘The Prevention of Catastrophic Head and Spine Injuries’, 981–986.
7 CitationKnowles et al. , ‘Risk Factors for Injury Among High School Football Players’, 302–310.
8 pinks and McClure, ‘Quantifying the Risk of Sports Injury’, 548–557; discussion, 557.
9 Citationde Loes and Goldie, ‘Incidence Rate of Injuries During Sport Activity’, 461–467.
10 CitationPringle, McNair, and Stanley, ‘Incidence of Sporting Injury in New Zealand’, 49–52.
11 CitationSchmikli et al. , ‘National Survey on Sports Injuries’, 101–106.
12 CitationChang et al. , ‘Risk Factors for Water Sports-related Cervical Spine Injuries’, 1041–1046.
13 CitationEmery and Meeuwisse, ‘Injury Rates’, 1960–1969.
14 CitationGerrard, ‘Overuse Injury and Growing Bones’, 14–18.
15 CitationJanssen et al. , ‘Influence of Multiple Risk Behaviours’, 672–680.
16 CitationKoven et al. , ‘Multiple Risk Behaviour’, 240–246.
17 CitationPickett et al. , ‘Associations Between Risk Behaviour and Injury’, 87–92.
18 Ackery et al., ‘An International Review of Head and Spinal Cord Injuries’, 368–375.
19 CitationMcKee et al. , ‘Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Athletes’, 709–735.
20 Spinks and McClure, ‘Quantifying the Risk of Sports Injury’, 548–557; discussion, 557.
21 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation.
22 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
23 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
24 Spinks and McClure, ‘Quantifying the Risk of Sports Injury’, 548–557; discussion, 557.
25 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation.
26 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
27 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
28 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
29 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
30 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation
31 CitationMacpherson and Spinks, ‘Bicycle Helmet Legislation’.
32 CitationTator, Provvidenza, and Cassidy, ‘Spinal Injuries in Canadian Ice Hockey’, 451–456.
33 CitationBohu et al. , ‘Declining Incidence of Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injuries’, 319–323.
34 CitationMorrongiello and Major, ‘Influence of Safety Gear on Parental Perceptions of Injury Risk’, 27–31; CitationMorrongiello, Walpole, and Lasenby, ‘Understanding Children's Injury-Risk Behaviour’, 618–623.
35 CitationPless, Magdalinos, and Hagel, ‘Risk-Compensation Behaviour in Children’, 610–614.
36 Tator, Catastrophic Injuries in Sports and Recreation.