A recent study from the University of Bath Center for Health and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport in the United Kingdom has found that engaging in various forms of exercise is generally safe and offers numerous health benefits. The study, which spanned five years, analyzed data from hospitals in England and Wales and discovered that the risk of serious injury from physical activity is extremely low. Even activities that are commonly perceived as risky, such as road cycling, were found to be safe.
Between 2012 and 2017, nearly 12,000 trauma injuries resulting from sports and exercise were recorded. The study examined 61 different sports and physical activities to determine the potential risks for participants. Running, golf, dance classes, and gym sessions were found to be the least likely to lead to injury. Running had 0.70 injuries, golf had 1.25 injuries, and fitness classes had just 0.10 injuries per 100,000 participants per year. Soccer had the highest injury incidence rate among popular sports, with 6.56 injuries per 100,000 participants per year. However, the authors of the study note that even this rate is relatively small.
The riskiest activities studied were motorsports, horseback riding, paragliding, and hang gliding. Motorsports resulted in 532 injuries per 100,000 participants, equestrian activities led to 235 injuries, and gliding caused 191 injuries. Men were found to have more injuries than women, with a rate of 6.4 injuries per 100,000 per year compared to 3.3 for women.
While the study brings encouraging news about the safety of exercise, it also highlights the increasing international injury risks associated with popular sports and physical activities. The researchers speculate that improvements in trauma data recording may contribute to the perception of increasing injury rates. However, it is crucial to respond to any increases in injury burden and use the data to make activities safer. Preventative measures such as protective equipment, education, and rule changes can help reduce exercise-related injuries.
The study was published in the journal Injury Prevention and funded by the British Medical Association.Popular Physical Activities: A Detailed Analysis of Injury Risks
