Biomechanics of Sports Injuries

Abstract

Sports-related injuries are rarely fatal but are very common. They are more common in contact sports, such as American football, but are also seen in non-contact sports, such as basketball and baseball. The knee is the most commonly injured body region in sports because the joint is not well protected by bony structures and is heavily used. However, catastrophic injuries can occur due to impacts to the head, neck, and chest. Examples of such injuries include fatal heart injuries in baseball, head injuries in football (soccer), baseball and basketball and knee injuries in jogging and tennis. The topics covered in this chapter are mild traumatic brain injury in American football, catastrophic neck injuries due to crown impacts, cardiac injuries due to sternal impacts, and knee injuries due to a lateral impact.