Sports Injuries and Their Lingering Long-Term Effects: Proposing the Addition of Injury Prevention Programs within Athletics

Abstract

The present review article analyzed the long term effects of sports injuries, whether adequate measures were already being taken to prevent serious injury within athletics, and what new methods could be implemented to reduce the high prevalence of such injuries. Athletes are faced with an increased pressure to perform due to the societal expectations of achieving success at an expedited rate. This pressure combined with the lack of preventative measures and education within athletics causes both acute and chronic injuries. This article examines how these injuries can not only have devastating short-term effects on the athlete, but can also cause long-term effects that impact the remainder of the athlete’s life. Some athletes are forced to drop out of participation, have to live with constant pain, and/or are unable to partake in physical activity later in life. Based upon the reviewed research, this is becoming a widespread issue within and beyond the public school system, with many institutions choosing not to implement preventative measures for their athletes.