The Risks and Benefits of Sports and Leisure. Professor David J Ball, School of Health, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Middlesex University, 10 Highgate Hill, London N19 5ND, telephone/fax +44 1603 665422; e-mail D.Ball@mdx.ac.uk or david.ball@paston.co.uk
Many risks with which the risk profession has to deal are small, sometimes even to the point of being described as ‘phantom’ risks. An important category of risk which does not fall into this category is attributable to activities ‘voluntarily’ engaged in, such as sports and various leisure pursuits. Research in the last couple of decades has, however, shown that these activities also carry truly colossal health benefits, particularly if continued into later life.
This paper will describe research into the risks and benefits of sporting activities. Using UK and international data on sports, the levels of associated risks and benefits to the public will be described, and conclusions drawn on the types of policy measures which might be appropriate in the health sector which, if it is to reap the benefit of a more healthy population through greater physical activity, must also face up to the consequences of increased risk of injury.
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