ABSTRACT
All sports have developed from the natural capabilities of the human mind and body and so, when partaken at modest level, 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.
