These two lists show the leading causes of non-fatal injury from exercise and recreation, broken down by age groups and gender. Each item gives the name of the activity and the total number of injuries reported by the CDC in 2001. These figures are taken from emergency room admissions; thus, minor injuries not requiring professional medical treatment are largely excluded.
The percentage figures in parentheses compare the number of injuries from the specific activity to the total injuries reported for the age/gender group. Generally, only items in excess of 10% are included here, but a more complete table is available.
The figures and linked table are courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.
Boys & Men
- Under 4 years old
- Playground 32,000 (30%)
- Bicycle 25,000 (23%)
- 5-9
- Bicycle 86,000 (23%)
- Playground 68,000 (19%)
- 10 -14
- Football 145,000 (19%)
- Bicycle 124,000 (16%)
- Basketball 118,000 (15%)
- 15 - 19
- Basketball 169,000 (26%)
- Football 139,000 (21%)
- 20 - 24
- Basketball 85,000 (29%)
- Bicycle 29,000 (10%)
- 25 - 44
- Basketball 118,000 (20%)
- Bicycle 77,000 (13%)
- Over 45
- Bicycle 41,000 (22%)
- Exercise 22,000 (11%)
- Fishing 18,000 (9%)
- Total for Boys & Men, all ages
- Total Injuries: 3,000,000
- Basketball 520,000 (18%)
- Bicycle 435,000 (15%)
- Football 375,000 (13%)
Girls & Women
- Under 4 years old
- Playground 25,000 (40%)
- Bicycle 11,000 (18%)
- 5-9
- Playground 58,000 (25%)
- Bicycle 53,000 (23%)
- 10 -14
- Basketball 53,000 (15%)
- Bicycle 39,000 (11%)
- Soccer 28,000 (8%)
- 15 - 19
- Basketball 38,000 (18%)
- Gymnastics* 22,000 (11%)
- 20 - 24
- Exercise 10,000 (13%)
- Bicycle @ 7,500 (@ 10%)
- 25 - 44
- Exercise 29,000 (13%)
- Bicycle 26,000 (12%)
- Over 45
- Exercise 26,000 (23%)
- Bicycle 16,000 (14%)
- Horseback 8,300 (7%)
- Total for Girls & Women, all ages
- Total Injuries: 1,300,000
- Bicycle 163,000 (13%)
- Basketball 114,000 (9%)
- Playground 108,000 (9%)
*Includes gynastics, cheerleading, dancing, and baton.
The figures do not answer a related question: How likely are you to get injured at all? This chart sheds some light on the subject.
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