Contact sports are notoriously dangerous pursuits, as indeed implied by the name. Though amongst the most popular sporting activities for adults to follow and young people to engage in, contact sports are also by far the most injurious. A sport like rugby, football, Martial Arts, and boxing can lead to chronic injuries or conditions, from acute bodily injuries to chronic neurological disease.
The short, and long-term impacts of contact sports vary, but the risk of a life irrevocably altered by injury doesn’t. What are the injuries athletes face in contact sports, and what ways can you protect yourself as an amateur sportsperson?
Common and Dangerous Injuries in Contact Sports
Physical sports engender physical injuries, and of all different forms. Practically every sport, contact or non-contact, poses risks relating to joint sprains and ligament tears; contact sports increase the odds on these, and of bruising or muscle bruising from blunt force trauma. It’s hard to play at game at speed and avoid a collision, the dangers are there even with someone with high awareness of what is happening around them.
More serious injuries, though, pertain to the brain. Whether sustained blows to the head in boxing, sustained tackles to the ground for rugby players, or even constant headers in the box in football, contact sports invariably risk the health of your brain. It was only recently that the impacts of such sustained activities were discovered in athletes, in the form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.
Risks of CTE
- CTE develops over time due to repeated blows to the head and concussions. Symptoms may include memory loss, confusion, depression, and dementia, which can appear years after retirement from the sport.
- A landmark study of former NFL players showed a high prevalence of CTE in individuals who had experienced repeated concussions.
Protective Measures
- Avoiding unnecessary contact and adhering to concussion protocols are crucial in reducing long-term neurological damage.
- Continued research is being conducted to better understand how to detect and treat CTE at earlier stages.
The Role of Medical Teams and Coaches in Ensuring Player Safety
The best-case scenario in failing to manage one’s fitness, health and injury recovery while playing contact sports is chronic pain in a joint or limb; the worst-case scenario is the development of a life-altering disability, whether through neurological degeneration or physical impairment. While there is a level of personal responsibility an athlete needs to take when managing their safety in sport, it is also the responsibility of the sporting organisation under which they play.
Coaches, medical teams and, in the case of tournaments, organisational staff are all responsible for the prevention and proper response to injuries. In certain cases, where obvious failures of organisation and preparedness result in chronic or life-altering injury, there may be recourse for personal injury claims against those that can be proven accountable.
England Rugby have strict rules for under age that emphasise non-contact tag or touch rugby at underage. Tackling is introduced at the U9 level, but specific guidelines are in place to manage how and when contact occurs to prevent injuries.
Football also has had changes, with heading not allowed this season for the first time at under 7 and under 8 level. From first hand experience I can confirm coaching at grassroots youth level requires passing of DBS, safeguarding and first aid before you can take a training session.
Concussion is a big part of the first aid training too, with strict protocols and recovery guidelines for both adults and children, especially if the player loses consciousness. Not all head injuries mean heavy blood loss.
Recognising Concussion Symptoms
- Immediate Symptoms: Dizziness, confusion, headaches, and nausea are common indicators of a concussion. Any player displaying these symptoms should be removed from play immediately.
- Delayed Symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sensitivity to light or noise may develop hours or days after the incident.
Recovery Timeline
- Rest is crucial in the first 24-48 hours after a concussion. Avoid screens, reading, or any strenuous activity during this time.
- Gradually reintroduce cognitive and physical activities based on medical advice. Returning to play too soon can increase the risk of further injury.
Return-to-Play Protocols
- Athletes should not return to play until they have been symptom-free for at least a week and have received medical clearance. A gradual return to sport, starting with light activity and slowly increasing intensity, is recommended.
Best Practices for Injury Prevention and Protection
Of course, responsible as coaches and medical staff are for preparing you as an individual, and properly treating you as an individual where injuries in active sport are concerned, it would not be wise to rely entirely on their guidance and responsiveness. Where the risk of professional negligence continues to hover above high-risk contact sports, it’s important to look out for number one – and to keep some best-practice training in mind for your own activity in your sport.
Regular training and drills are a given, even if only to maintain a base level of fitness and reduce the risk of strain injuries. More serious acute injuries are not easily avoided, but are easily recuperated-from if you take a steady, unrushed approach. As for chronic sports risks, common sense abounds.
