Sport injury patterns in urban and rural accident and emergency units

Sport injuries are a common yet an unwanted aspect of participation in sports. Previous studies have indicated disparities between urban and rural injury patterns. This study examines sport injuries specifically. Although similar in many features, there were major variations in the patterns of rural and urban sports injuries. Rural injuries appeared to revolve around football codes while the urban pattern reflected involvement in a wider variety of sport. The results confirm that injury data can be used to determine specific priorities within different communities. Consequently local data are seen as imperative to initiate appropriate preventive action in rural areas.