Different sports carry different injury risks. Runners often experience foot- and knee-related injuries; golfers are more likely to experience shoulder and lower back problems. Knowing what to protect yourself from, how to protect yourself most effectively, and what to do if you sustain injury, can help you stay in the game—or get back to it quickly.


Ankle and Foot Injuries

All types of athletes are at risk of sustaining foot or ankle injuries or developing an ongoing condition.

Elbow Injuries

The elbow joint is where multiple bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons connect. All of these are susceptible to injury due to repeated flexing, extending, and force—such as playing tennis.

General Injuries

General injuries, such as stress fractures, can affect almost any part of an athlete's body. Which areas are most at risk depends on the sport played, as well as play style and intensity.

Groin Injuries

Long-distance runners, soccer players, football players, lacrosse players, wrestlers, and other athletes are susceptible to athletic groin injuries, such as sports hernia.

Head and Neck Injuries

While age, position, and style of play can all affect a person's head injury risk, any athlete can sustain a head injury (such as a concussion) during the course of play.

Knee Injuries

The body's largest joint, the knee can receive fractures, sprains, tears, dislocations, and other injuries if athletes do not engage in proper form and technique or do not wear the correct equipment for their sport.

Leg Injuries

Some leg injuries may only affect part of the leg, while others may cause more widespread problems and extend into the foot or include the knee.

Shoulder Injuries

Injury to the bones, ligaments, and muscles of the shoulder is most often sustained during sports with repetitive overhead motions such as pitching in baseball or many swimming strokes.

Running Injuries

More than half of running injuries are overuse injuries. The most common running injuries tend to occur in the knees, feet and ankles, calves and shins.