Epidemiology and prevention of injuries in physical education classes (intern)

The 4th edition of the Oxford Textbook of Children’s Sport and Exercise Medicine is a single-volume reference in the field presented in four sections: exercise science, exercise medicine, sport science and sport medicine.

Each chapter analyses the research literature, establishes what is known, identifies gaps in our knowledge, and challenges current dogma. Where appropriate, chapters examine how recently developed experimental techniques, technologies, and methods of interpreting data have provided new insights into understanding the relationships between, physical activity, exercise, physical fitness, health, and sport performance in childhood and adolescence.

The book is designed to inform, challenge, and support all those interested in the exercising child and adolescent, the promotion of physical activity and youth health, and the optimum development of youth athletes.

This chapter 43 is about physical education (PE) and injuries during PE at school. Traditionally, one of the primary goals of PE is to motivate children to participate in sports over a lifetime. Negative experiences like injuries sustained during PE will question the achievement of this objective.

Data concerning injuries in PE classes are mostly obtained indirectly from large epidemiological studies that do not specifically address the issue. Consequently, there are only limited specific data on the topic. Also, data concerning the influence of the PE teacher in injury prevention are scarce.

This chapter summarises the available information on the epidemiology and prevention of injuries sustained during PE classes.