It seems like every couple of years there is a major injury to a football player that results in either permanent disability or occasionally death. Any such injury should not be acceptable. However, when compared to injuries 100 years ago we can see that there has been great advances in safety of the player.
In 1907 fourteen football players were killed and fifty-eight seriously injured. In 1905 twenty-two players were killed and ninety-six seriously injured. Between 1905 and 1907 new rules of play were coming into use that apparently decreased the rate of injuries. But when one looks at photos from this time period it is obvious that the lack of safety equipment was a factor that still needed to be addressed.
Those participating in the extreme sports of today could benefit from wearing better safety equipment. Hopefully, advances will be made in this area.
Terry Pfau DO, HMD