Are Your Players At Risk For Lacrosse Injuries?

By Kalynn Amadio

Lacrosse is considered a relatively safe sport for high school athletes according to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2005. Most lacrosse injuries involve sprains and strains, contusions and abrasions.

Injury data hasn't shown the need for female lacrosse players to wear helmets though eye protection and mouth guards are necessary. However, male lacrosse players are required to wear helmets, elbow pads, padded gloves, groin cups, chest and shoulder pads. While lacrosse is categorized as a "collision sport" by the NCAA in the same league as football and ice hockey, it has reduced injury rates.

Common Injuries

Lacrosse gloves are padded, but they are more flexible than the gloves hockey players wear. Lacrosse gloves give greater dexterity of the phalanges. Wrist and hand injuries usually occur from a direct blow. Trapped fingers grasping the lacrosse shaft are commonly the victim of a fracture from a direct blow.

Shoulder separations and clavicle fractures commonly occur from collision with another player. Falling onto the shoulder is another common cause of injury to this area. The high rate of shoulder injuries compared to other contact sports is due to the particular nature of play. Actually, during game play, the shoulder is the most frequently injured body part.

Because no pads are worn on the lower extremities, the body parts most frequently injured were the ankle, upper leg, and knee, which combined accounted for 48% of all lacrosse injuries. Knee injuries are among the most commonly observed in the sport of lacrosse because of the quick pivoting footwork to avoid an opponent with a dodge or cut which strains the knee.

Protective Gear

Both US Lacrosse and the NCAA have set regulations that require the use of protective equipment designed mainly for the head and upper extremities. Men's lacrosse is often perceived to be a violent sport, but NCAA injury statistics don't support this claim. Approximately 40% of lacrosse injuries are non-contact.

United States Lacrosse insurance data showed that 42% of all claims dollars were paid for knee injuries and 50% of the claims were paid out to high school players. Statistics show that the use of Lacrosse helmets deters catastrophic brain injuries though concussions do occur.

It isn't necessary for women's lacrosse athletes to wear extensive protective gear. The occasional contact in women's lacrosse makes equipment like helmets and chest padding unnecessary. Protection of the face, eyes and mouth, are a necessity while some female players like to wear nose guards and a non-padded style glove.

It is important for coaches and parents to be familiar with the most likely injuries to occur in practice or a game. Having an idea of which injuries are the most probable can lead to better treatment and a shorter recovery for the athlete.

About the Author:

Kalynn Amadio is a Lacrosse parent. See her comprehensive information rich website, Lacrosse-Information to learn more valuable tips on How to Play Lacrosse. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service