Smartplay Victoria -
A partnership approach to sports injury prevention
Injury is recognised as one of the most
significant barriers to participation in physical activity and
poses a major cost burden on the Victorian and Australian health
systems. In recent years the increase in physical activity promotion
has raised concern that more participants are being exposed
to the risks inherent in many sports and other forms of physical
activity. To counter this potential risk Smartplay has been
initiated in Victoria to reduce the incidence and frequency
of sport and recreational injuries and change a commonly held
attitude that injuries are an inevitable part of participation.
There is a sense of irony in the fact that increased participation
levels, whilst lowering the risk of chronic diseases such
as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers on one
hand, also expose participants to greater risk of musculoskeletal
and other traumatic injuries. Yet the cost associated with
these injuries to both the individual and society has been
shown to be far greater than the cost of preventing injuries
in the first place. These associated costs include treatment
costs, physical damage and disability, costs of insurance
premiums and time away from work.
Contrary to popular perception, injuries need not be an inevitable
part of participating in physical activity and many steps
can be taken to prevent them. Whilst there is a perceived
acceptance that sport and physical activity do have some inherent
risk, Smartplay has set about changing the perception and
practices of participants at the grass roots level of community
sport. This is achieved through strategic partnerships in
the sport and recreation industry and the promotion of 'WARM
UP, DRINK UP, GEAR UP', Smartplay's underlying slogan. The
slogan represents a small sample of the injury prevention
issues facing participants and other sporting community stakeholders
such as coaches, officials, parents and club administrators.
From a strategic perspective it is the partnerships that
Smartplay is forging with industry stakeholders that hold
the key to Smartplay's success in reducing sport and recreation
injuries. One of Smartplay's most important partnerships is
that of its unique funding structure, a partnership between
VicHealth, Sport and Recreation Victoria, Department of Human
Services. Along with its other partners, Sports Medicine Australia
and Vicsport, Smartplay has set about aligning the sport safety
and injury prevention messages with those of existing physical
activity promotion activities being delivered, funded or influenced
by the steering committee partners.
Smartplay is playing an important role as a resource for
the sport and recreation industry and addressing many of injuries
that are preventable in sport and recreation settings.
|
