Playing sports can be fun, but it can also be dangerous if you are not careful. You can help prevent injuries by
- Getting a physical to make sure you are healthy before you start playing your sport
- Wearing the right shoes, gear, and equipment
- Drinking lots of water
- Warming up and stretching
If you have already hurt yourself playing a sport, make sure you recover completely before you start up again. If possible, protect the injured part of your body with padding, a brace, or special equipment. When you do start playing again, start slowly.
Statistics and Research
- Youth Sports Safety Statistics (National Athletic Trainers' Association) - PDF
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Bicycling (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Repeated Impacts Diminish the Impact Performance of Equestrian Helmets.
- Article: Clinical outcome of percutaneous lumbar foraminoplasty using a safety-improved device in...
- Article: Mass Properties Comparison of Dismounted and Ground-Mounted Head-Supported Mass Configurations to...
- Sports Safety -- see more articles
- ACSM Fit Society Page (American College of Sports Medicine)
Find an Expert
- For Parents, Teachers and Coaches: About Sports Eye Injury and Protective Eyewear (National Eye Institute) - PDF
- Preventing Children's Sports Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Protective Eyewear (National Eye Institute)
- Safety Tips: Baseball (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
- Safety Tips: Basketball (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
- Sports and Your Eyes (National Eye Institute)
- Winter Safety Tips (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- Bicycle Safety (National Institute on Aging)