Internal risk factors originate within the performer, while external risk factors arise from the activity, environment, equipment, or training conditions. They predispose someone to injury by increasing susceptibility, but they do not guarantee that an injury will occur.
How Risk Factors Cause Injury
In IB SEHS subtopic B.3.1, injury often results from an interaction between a vulnerable performer and an external event or load. For example, reduced ankle stability is an internal risk factor, but injury may occur only when the athlete lands on an uneven surface, which is an external risk factor.
Risk factors can also be classified as modifiable, meaning they can be changed, or non-modifiable, meaning they cannot readily be changed.
| Type | Risk factors and examples |
|---|---|
| Internal, non-modifiable | Age, biological sex, genetic characteristics, body structure, and previous injury history |
| Internal, modifiable | Poor fitness, muscle weakness, muscular imbalance, limited flexibility, reduced joint stability, poor coordination, fatigue, and psychological factors such as low concentration |
| External, modifiable | Excessive training load, sudden increases in intensity or duration, inadequate recovery, poor coaching, incorrect technique, unsuitable footwear, and poorly maintained equipment |
| External, environmental | Uneven or slippery surfaces, extreme heat or cold, poor lighting, weather conditions, and unsafe facilities |
| External, activity-related | Physical contact, collisions, rules of the sport, repetitive movements, and the speed or intensity of competition |
A previous injury is especially important because incomplete rehabilitation may leave reduced strength, mobility, or proprioception. Excessive or rapidly increased training load can then exceed the tissue's capacity to tolerate stress, producing an acute injury or an overuse injury through repeated microtrauma.
A common misconception is that one risk factor directly causes every injury. In reality, injuries are usually multifactorial: several internal and external factors combine to increase probability.
Exam Technique
For an identify question, list clearly classified factors. For an explain question, state the factor and show how it increases injury risk. Use a linked example, such as: fatigue reduces coordination, making poor landing mechanics and an ankle sprain more likely.