Approximately 4.4 million children ages 5-18 are seen in hospital emergency rooms for sports injuries each year. Most sports injuries can be prevented.
Some sports have a higher injury rate than others.
Before puberty, the risk of sports-related injury is even between boys and girls. However, at puberty, boys gain in strength and size and are injured more often and more seriously than girls. The seriousness of the injuries increases with age and level of competition. Thousands of injuries have been prevented by hockey face protectors. Female volleyball and basketball players are more prone to knee injuries.