A report released from the Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has revealed that almost 60,000 Australians were taken to the hospital through playing sport in 2016-17, reports the Daily Mail.
It also revealed that men are twice as likely to be hospitalised due to sport than women and that fractures were the most common injury. Over that same period, just over 60,000 people were hospitalised due to transport crashes.
Of the injuries that required hospitalisation, 32 per cent happened while playing one of Australia’s football codes (Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union, and Football), with hips or legs (30 per cent) and head or neck (25 per cent) being affected by the most injuries.
Cycling accounted for around 11 per cent of those who were hospitalised as a result of injuries or accidents.
28 per cent of hospitalisations were for women, with football, netball, and horse-riding being the most common activities.
Life-threatening injuries made up 10 per cent, with swimming and diving making up 27 per cent of those cases, 24 per cent for cycling, and 24 per cent for equestrian sports.
Many believe the rewards outweigh the risks, such as Maddie Nelson who was severely concussed when she fell off her horse during an event in Tamworth during 2017. The 19-year-old had 16 brain bleeds and slept up to 22 hours a day while she recovered.
“It’s an absolute passion for me, I love it,” Ms Nelson said. “I got straight back on the horse after I fell off and I’ve been back competing ever since. I was kind of sceptical about whether it was all worth it, given how close I came to seriously injuring myself, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives and I kind of just thought ‘if I love it so much I better keep going.”
Professor James Harrison from AIHW said the results showed that huge numbers of Australians participate in sporting events regularly. Many Australians participate regularly in sport and physical recreation activities, and it’s clear that we are a nation of sport-lovers. Participation in sport contributes positively to a range of physical, mental and social health outcomes.
“Just 30 minutes of physical activity a day can lead to a happier and healthier lifestyle. However, playing a sport does not come without risk.”
Not all forms of exercise showed the same levels of risk. The sports that had the least risk included recreational walking, and going to the gym, having hospitalisation rates of 12 and 10 per cent respectively.
The sport with the highest rate of participation-based hospitalisation was wheeled motorsports such as motorcycling and go-carting, with 1,280 hospitalisations per 100,000 participants.
This was followed by a combined total of both rugby codes, and roller sports (such as roller skating and skateboarding), with a rate of 1,180 and 1,175 per 100,000 participants, respectively.
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