Abstract

Through a nation wide survey it has been possible to get an overall picture of the number of sports injuries in the Netherlands. Broad definitions of sport and sports injuries were used. The survey resulted in an estimation of 2,7 million injuries for the period of one year in the Netherlands. 43 of these injuries were treated by the official health care system. 29 of all the injuries occured in outdoorsoccer. The incidence rate of the total amount of injuries was 3.3 per 1000 hours spent on sport. Indoor soccer is the sport with the highest incidence rate: nearly nine injuries per 1000 hours spent on indoor soccer. Unorganized recreation sport (a.o. bicycling, swimming and walking) has a low incidence rate. A prevention policy, directed to a positive evaluation of sports participation, could not only include prevention of injuries in sports with a high injury risk but also a recommendation of sports with a low incidence rate. Verf.-Referat