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I know lots of people have had injuries due to pole vaulting, its the second most dangerous sport in the world behind Jai-Alai according to something i read awhile back, but I have something going on that I'm wondering if anyone has had problems with.

I've been on a muscle relaxer, pain killer, and a steroid this week due to a pain that suddenly hit me on Monday and stuck around. It's either a herniated disk or some other mechanism causing bilateral compression on my siatic nerves. Anyone? Anyone?

Just wondering if its ever happened to anyone else cause I'm a bit worried about my track and personal futures with such intense pains.

If you think you might have nerve compression, see a doctor NOW.

I went to the training room for the University, and they worked with me for a pair of days until the doctor came in. He looked at it and prescribed the meds and said if it persists then we'll do an MRI.

StickJumper wrote:I know lots of people have had injuries due to pole vaulting, its the second most dangerous sport in the world behind Jai-Alai according to something i read awhile back

No it's not.

even if it's a herniated disk you should see a doc. immediately. My dad has been battleing a coupple herniated disks since the early 90s and it sucks! hope you heal soon

Any idea on where it would be or which sports are what?

StickJumper wrote:Any idea on where it would be or which sports are what?

There was a study done a few years back on a select few HIGH SCHOOL sports. It used 25,000 as the number of pole vault participants. Based on that number, it said pole vault had the most catastrophic injuries of the sports they looked at (did not include any extreme sports, just your most basic high school sports).

I believe there are more than 25,000 high school vaulters, and many many more than that when you include youth, college, elite, and masters vaulters.

The St. Petersburg used this study in 2002 and made a very silly article with a big headline saying "POLE VAULT DEADLIEST SPORT". *rolls eyes*

I've never seen any studies that comparing it to other (non-HS) sports. I'd have to look at the study, but I feel quite confident that pole vault is not more dangerous than all other sports but Jai-Alai.

That's interesting that they did a study in that basis. I can see how out of HS sports, that it would probably end up that way. Not a lot of opportunity in some other sports to get as hurt as in the pole vault.

I think it was USA Today that did a poll/study/comparison of the world's most deadly sports, and Jai-Alai was definately number, which surprised me. Apparently, using those wicker claw racket things, they whip what it similar to a skee-ball at a wall at rates up to 186mph being the fastest ever recorded. With nothing but a half helmet, and several ppl in a confined area, people get caught in the crossfire.

I did some research on Pole Vaulting and the dangers of it for my research paper last year. I found out that pole vaulting, though not the most dangerous sport of all, does have the highest death rate per year out of any sport since 1980. I read that in many different places, if needed I could look up the information to prove it...

My personal belief is it is only dangerous because people make it dangerous by not taking safety precautions that they should, and that a lot of coaches do not stress the importance of safety, over height...

Zachmo

You REALLY need to keep this in perspective. There are fewer injuries and/or fatalities in hang gliding than in stepping in or out of a bath tub. Be careful with statistics. Also, remember the number of high school AND college programs with vaulters and coaches that never vaulted.......The stats don't reflect the true landscape...........

based on anecdotal information, i would say that back injuries seem to be the most common injury among pole vaulters. it makes me wonder what you can do to prevent back injuries- anyone?

try really hard not to take off under?