Gym Class Injuries On The Rise, Study Finds

Washington, DC (AHN) – Injuries resulting from physical education class are on the rise, according to a new study published this week in the online issue of Pediatrics.

Researchers with the Nationwide Children’ Hospital said in their report that the number of gym class-related injuries to elementary, middle and high school students in the United States increased 150 percent between 1997 and 2007.

Most of these injuries were lower-extremity sprains and strains, followed by upper extremity injuries and fractures. Middle school children ages 11 to 14 years old accounted for more than half of the injuries. The researchers also said that elementary school children had almost double the chances of having a head injury in gym.

Almost 70 percent of the injuries happened while the children were participating in either running, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer or gymnastics.

The injuries were caused by contact with another person, playing surface, equipment, stationary structures, pulled muscles, overuse and illnesses like heat stroke.

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