Common Causes of Sports Injuries
Sports injuries rarely occur by chance. In IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS), injury causation is explained through a combination of biomechanical, training-related, and environmental factors. Understanding these causes allows students to explain injury mechanisms clearly and apply prevention strategies effectively in exam questions.
Most injuries result from multiple interacting factors rather than a single cause.
Biomechanical Causes of Injury
Biomechanical factors relate to how forces act on the body during movement. Poor biomechanics can increase stress on tissues and raise injury risk.
Common biomechanical causes include:
- Poor movement technique
- Incorrect joint alignment
- Inefficient force distribution
- Sudden or excessive loading
For example, stiff-legged landings increase joint stress, while poor cutting technique increases knee injury risk. In IB SEHS, linking biomechanics to injury is essential for high-mark answers.
Training Errors and Injury Risk
Training-related factors are one of the most common causes of sports injuries. These occur when training demands exceed the body’s ability to adapt.
Examples include:
- Rapid increases in training volume or intensity
- Inadequate rest or recovery
- Repetitive training without variation
These factors are closely linked to chronic and overuse injuries such as tendonitis or stress fractures. IB exam questions often require students to explain how training load contributes to injury.
Muscle Imbalances and Weakness
Muscle imbalances occur when one muscle group is significantly stronger or tighter than its opposing group. This can alter movement patterns and increase stress on joints and connective tissues.
Common consequences include:
- Reduced joint stability
- Altered force absorption
- Increased strain on ligaments and tendons
In IB SEHS, muscle imbalances are often discussed in relation to injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Fatigue and Injury
Fatigue increases injury risk by reducing coordination, reaction time, and movement control.
As fatigue develops:
- Technique deteriorates
- Force absorption becomes less effective
- Decision-making slows
This increases the likelihood of acute injuries late in games or training sessions. Linking fatigue to injury risk is a strong application point in IB exams.
Environmental and Equipment Factors
External factors also influence injury risk.
These include:
- Playing surface conditions
- Footwear or protective equipment
- Weather and temperature
For example, high-friction surfaces can increase joint stress, while inappropriate footwear can reduce stability. In IB SEHS, students should recognise that injury risk is influenced by both the athlete and their environment.
Exam Relevance for IB SEHS
Injury cause questions often require explanation and application. High-mark answers clearly identify multiple causes, explain how they increase injury risk, and link them to specific sports or movements.
Avoid listing causes without explaining their effect on the body.
RevisionDojo Call to Action
If injury causation feels complex or hard to apply in exam answers, RevisionDojo helps IB SEHS students master injury topics with clear explanations and exam-style practice. It is the most effective way to turn understanding into exam-ready confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most common cause of sports injuries?
Most injuries result from a combination of poor biomechanics, training errors, and fatigue rather than a single factor.
Why do training errors lead to injury?
Excessive or rapid increases in training load prevent adequate adaptation, increasing tissue stress and injury risk.
How are injury causes tested in IB SEHS exams?
Students are often asked to explain injury mechanisms using biomechanical, training, and environmental factors in applied scenarios.
