ABSTRACT
All sports have developed from the natural capabilities of the human mind and
body and so, when partaken at modest levels, few sports involve great risk of
physical injury. This situation changes dramatically when sporting pursuits
are undertaken at higher competitive levels. As it becomes necessary to push the
body further, in an effort to achieve greater performance, a point may well
be reached where the stresses and strains exerted on the structural framework of
the body may exceed that which the body is capable of withstanding, resulting in
connective tissues being torn or joints being dislocated. Many sports carry their
own peculiar additional risks of injury to the body; the boxer may suffer repeated
blows to the face, causing extensive bruising and laceration and the footballer
may receive kicks to the legs, resulting in bruising or even bone fracture.
