Why you need to be careful when playing contact sports
In 2023, roughly 63.5% of the UK population aged 16 and over regularly participated in sports. This percentage has generally risen since 2000, making the UK a sport-loving society.
Contact sports are some of the most popular sports within the UK and can help people to keep in shape as well as offer a social and mental health boost. But there are risks when it comes to contact sports, so it is worth knowing the dangers before you begin playing.
What is a contact sport?
A contact sport is defined as an activity in which players have expected and varied contact with other players or items within the game.
Sports such as rugby, wrestling, judo and boxing are all defined as contact sports due to the amount of contact players have with one another.
What are the risks involved with contact sports?
All sports come with the risk of injury, such as pulled muscles, sprains, grazes and bruises. Contact sport does have the risk of all of these things, but it also has an increased risk of head injuries when compared with other sports.
Repeated blows to the head, like in rugby or boxing can lead to concussions or traumatic brain injuries. There has been an increase in professional athletes such as Aussie Rules player Heather Anderson being diagnosed with CTE which stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a serious illness that leads to cognitive degeneration, repeated concussions and progressive memory loss.
How to make sure you are safe when playing contact sports
Contact sports are incredibly popular among younger people, so keeping them safe is imperative. Wearing protective sports gear such as mouthguards and helmets when appropriate will help to absorb some of the impact of a blow to the head.
Sports players of all ages should be sure to stretch and warm up properly before practice and games. This will help to prevent muscle strains and sprains from overexertion.
It is important for coaches, players and parents to be educated about different signs of injury, especially head injuries. To create a safe playing field, your club or team should have rules pertaining to injury and not allow players back onto the field unless they have been cleared by a medical professional.
What should you do when someone is injured playing a contact sport?
In the immediate aftermath of an injury during a contact sport, seek medical attention. If there is not a medic available, call 111 for advice on whether to go to A&E or not. In the event that someone has lost consciousness, is bleeding or has sudden cognitive issues then call an ambulance straight away,
There are times when an accident occurs when the club or organiser has been negligent and that negligence has caused the injury. If you feel this has happened to you, contact a firm of expert brain injury solicitors to start the process of seeking compensation.