Pick your sport
Injury prevention by sport
Every sport is hard on the body in its own way. Pick yours to see the injuries that matter most, the habits that prevent them, and the lessons to take first.
- SoccerSoccer means sprinting, cutting, kicking, and collisions, so ankles, knees, and leg muscles take most of the hits.Watch for: ankle sprains, ACL and knee injuries, muscle strains
- BasketballJumping, landing, and quick stops make ankles and knees the big ones in basketball, with fingers close behind.Watch for: ankle sprains, ACL and knee injuries, jammed fingers
- Football and flag footballTackling is one of the biggest injury risks in youth football, and most injuries happen in games, not practice.Watch for: concussions, knee injuries, shoulder injuries
- Baseball and softballThrowing over and over is hard on growing arms, so most baseball and softball injuries are overuse injuries in the shoulder and elbow.Watch for: throwing elbow injuries, throwing shoulder injuries, growth plate injuries
- LacrosseCutting and dodging make knees and ankles the top concern in lacrosse, and the right gear protects the head and face.Watch for: ankle and knee sprains, ACL and knee injuries, concussions
- VolleyballAll that jumping and landing puts ankles and knees first in volleyball, while serving and spiking work the shoulder hard.Watch for: ankle sprains, jumper's knee, ACL injuries
- Track, cross country, and runningMost running injuries build up slowly in the legs and feet, so how you train matters as much as how fast you run.Watch for: shin splints and stress fractures, heel and foot pain, knee pain
- CheerleadingCheer injuries happen less often than in many sports but can be more serious, so stunt safety comes first.Watch for: wrist sprains, ankle sprains, head and neck injuries