The risks of serious injury from most sports and exercise are astonishingly small, according to the results of a five-year study led by researchers at the University of Bath in the UK.
The study, funded by the British Medical Association, shows that even forms of sport sometimes considered risky by the public, such as road cycling, are generally safe, suggesting the benefits of taking part in fitness activities far outweigh the dangers.
This is the first time in England and Wales that researchers have attempted to describe and quantify the relative risks of trauma resulting from sport or some other physical activity. It's hoped that the study's results will make it easier for both participants and organisers of activities to make their pursuits safer still.
Data for the new study -- which is published today in the journal Injury Prevention, published by BMJ -- came from hospitals nationwide, where participants of sports and exercise presented with major trauma.
The researchers found that between 2012 and 2017, a total of 11,702 trauma injuries resulted from sports and exercise.
Dr Sean Williams, a researcher at the Department for Health and the Centre for health and Injury and Illness Prevention at the University of Bath, and principal investigator of the study, said: "This work demonstrates that engaging in fitness activities is overwhelmingly a safe and beneficial pursuit.
"While no physical activity is entirely without risk, the chance of serious injury is exceedingly low when compared to the myriad health and wellness advantages gained from staying active."
The study examined 61 sports and other physical activities undertaken nationally, irrespective of their popularity, and provided a comparable estimate of the risks to participants.
Source: ScienceDaily
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