5 Sports That Cause The Highest Number of Brain Injuries

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 1.7 million people suffer from traumatic brain injuries each year. Amongst that number, 10% comes from sports and recreational activities. With the weather warming up, you may be eager to partake in your favorite recreational activities. However, you should consider the most common sports that lead to brain injuries.

Cycling

Cycling is the most dangerous sport resulting in over 85,000 sports injuries a year. Although football seems like it would be the most dangerous, there are fewer football players than there are cyclists. It’s also more common for cyclists to have more severe injuries if they aren’t wearing proper safety equipment.

Football

Behind cycling comes football, with over 47,000 brain injuries a year. Due to repeated blows to the head, football players are most likely to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE. Football players need to wear equipment properly and follow tackle and striking guidelines as it can result in a mild to severe brain injury.

Baseball

Concussions are the highest amongst catchers and pitchers are they are more likely to be struck by the pitch or a foul ball. Although there are rules that prevent collisions between catchers and batters, accidents do happen.

Basketball

In basketball, concussions are most common but not limited to head-to-elbow collisions while trying to rebound a ball. However, slip and falls, head-to-head, and head-to-shoulder collisions frequently happen too. Basketball players must follow concussion protocol, even with the mildest injuries. After five days, the player can expect to make a return to the sport, but with caution.

Water Sports

There are multiple ways a swimmer can sustain a brain injury. From diving into shallow ends to hitting their head on a wall, it is very common for a swimmer to obtain a concussion. Being aware of your surroundings and wearing proper protective gear can help reduce your risk of a mild to severe brain injury. Nothing is worse than having to take away time from something you love due to something that could have been prevented.

When playing sports, you take on some assumption of risk. Although you cannot predict an injury, you can take specific measures to prevent it from happening. But, injuries do happen and knowing that you can be compensated for your recovery treatments can help ease your thoughts.

With more than 80 years of combined experience, the Michles & Booth, P.A. team can assist you with recovering your medical expenses. If you or a loved one has sustained mild to severe injuries from a recreational activity or sport, give our attorneys a call today. We’re able to analyze your injuries and assess what options you have to achieve the best outcome for your health.

Give us a call today at 850-438-4848 or visit our website today to schedule a consultation.