Search

In brief Football fatality and catastrophic injury data for 1976 through 1981 are compared with earlier data. The purpose is to analyze the data in regard to rule and equipment changes that have taken place in football since 1976 and to demonstrate the reduction in fatalities and catastrophic injuries. Fatality data for 1981 show five high school and two college fatalities. In 1981 there were five permanent spinal cord injuries in high schools and one in college.

Improved conditioning, rule changes, and a helmet standard helped reduce football fatalities to an all-time low in 1979.

In brief: Catastrophic spine injuries among football players are decreasing, according to data furnished by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. A total of 105 players incurred permanent cervical cord injuries from 1977 through 1987, with 13 such injuries in 1980 and only seven in 1987. Defensive players are at greater risk for quadriplegia than offensive players, and most are injured while tackling. To further reduce catastrophic spine injuries, players must stop using the head as a battering ram and use the shoulder for blocking and tackling instead.

In brief: The latest data on football deaths and injuries at the college, high school, and youth league levels show that seven direct fatalities and seven permanent cervical cord injuries occurred in 1985, for an incidence in each category of 0.44 per 100,000 players. Direct fatalities have been in single digits for eight years, and the total for the 1975 to 1984 period was significantly lower than for the preceding decade (83 vs 204). Overall, the latest figures indicate a continued decline in football deaths and catastrophic injuries, which is credited to a ban on spearing and to a helmet standard, Guidelines for prevention of fatalities and catastrophic injuries are listed.

In brief: Football fatality data have been collected since 1931 and catastrophic injury data since 1977. There have been dramatic reductions in both areas, but for the past six years these numbers have remained steady. Some experts in the field of football injury research have stated that further reductions are not possible. The authors argue that efforts should be continued to eliminate these injuries and recommend mandatory medical examinations, rule changes, proper conditioning and equipment, having a physician on the field whenever possible, and continued research to help in this effort.

Improved conditioning, a helmet standard, and rules forbidding butt blocking and face tackling account for the lowest incidence of football head and neck injuries in 18 years.

In brief The authors compiled data from 20 National Collegiate Athletic Association lacrosse teams to study the relationship between injuries, protective equipment, and game rules. Athletic trainers for each team kept track of Injuries as they occurred. The 586 players sustained 306 injuries for an injury rate of 52.2%. Half the injuries occurred in the lower extremities, which have no protective equipment. The trunk and arms received 39.8% of the injuries, and the head and face received 9.8%, even though the players are required to wear helmets and face masks. Fewer than 10% of the athletes wore mouth guards. The authors concluded that lacrosse equipment and rules need further study.