REVEALED: Majority of Irish adults who sustain injuries in sport receive no financial support

New research has found that 72% of Irish people who regularly participate in sport have sustained an injury while playing, with 73% of those injured incurring a significant financial cost as a result.

AIG recently surveyed more than 1,300 players and sport participants across several sports from all over Ireland about their experiences with sports. It found that most had experienced an injury, with 33% sustaining one in the last twelve months. The majority (63%) of these injuries occurred during match play, with strained muscle (53%), broken bones (34%) and ankle injuries (29%) among the most common problems.

Participants were asked about the financial toll of such injuries and the findings were stark, with 63% of those injured incurring over €200 in additional costs as a result of their most significant injury and 23% facing an eye watering bill of more than €500.

Furthermore, the majority of respondents noted that they were forced to bear the brunt of the cost themselves as 72% said their clubs didn’t provide or support free physio or medical appointments. Higher level athletes were more likely to receive practical support from their clubs, while just 23% of junior players and 32% of intermediate players reported being aware of clubs supplying free physiotherapy or medical appointments.

The research also found that it’s not just finances that take a hit. 53% admitted that an injury had affected their work or education in terms of performance or attendance, while 72% said their most significant injury had kept them out of sport for four weeks or more.