Profile of head and neck injury risks in selected sports
| Sport | Injury incidence, proportion of head and neck injury, and special issues |
|---|---|
| Rugby | 19.4 lost time injuries per 1000 player hours (under 15 level to international combined); head injury 14–25%, concussion 5–15%; neck injury 2.6–7.5%, risk of catastrophic injury3 |
| Ice hockey | 96 per 1000 player hours (junior), 53 per 1000 player game hours; 4–18% at the professional level, 1995–2001 & concussion 2–20%; intracranial injury and blinding4–6 |
| American football | 40 per 1000 athletic exposures; 6.1% concussion & 0.41 concussions per National Football League game; neck injury 5%; severe and fatal injury7–9 |
| Baseball | Facial injury 28%, head injury 11%, oral injury 5% in 5–14 year olds and emergency visits; leading cause of sports related eye injury in the USA10 |
| Youth soccer/football | 0.6–29 injuries per 1000 player hours, depending on level of play; head injury 4–20%; fatal injuries in children caused by falling goal posts; debate over concussion and heading11–13 |
| Boxing | 16% of injuries in professional boxing are concussion; risk of severe acute and long term brain injury14 |
| Cricket | 2 injuries per 1000 hours in first class15; head injury 3–25%; orofacial and eye injuries15,16 |
| Professional horse racing | 606 injuries per 1000 jockey years (1993–1996, USA); head, neck, and facial injury 19%; severe spectrum of injuries from falls and collisions17 |
| Skiing & snowboarding | 2–6 injuries per 1000 skier days; brain injury accounted for 29% of all injuries admitted to hospital, 50–88% of all fatalities, and in general 3–15% of all injuries.18; head injury 7% of all injuries19; collision with rigid objects, such as trees, may be fatal18,19 |