Injuries in high school physical education classes

Suburban high school pupils participating in physical education classes sustained 3.6 injuries per 100 participants per year that were noted on official school accident reports, and 5.4 injuries per 100 for which pupils visited the school nurse. These latter injuries were minor. The official school accident reports indicated that injuries occurred at approximately equal rates in boys and girls; most were due to accidents that did not involve another participant or a piece of sports equipment, and, although usually not severe, were referred by the school nurse for further evaluation or treatment in some cases. Sprains were the most common type of injury and the ankle was the most commonly injured area. No particular set of conditions was identified wherein preventive measures could be taken to decrease the injury rate.