Injuries are increasingly the reason for people to stop playing sports: how do we prevent this?

Herzog Medical
May 20, 2025

More and more Dutch people are (temporarily or permanently) quitting sports due to injuries. This is evident from the most recent research by VeiligheidNL. In 2023 alone, no fewer than 5.3 million sports injuries were reported. Fitness topped the list with 1.2 million injuries , followed by field football (1 million) and running (690,000) . These are alarming figures that show that injuries are no longer an incident – they are a structural problem within sports.

Acute and latent injuries
The research shows that almost two-thirds of injuries occur acutely, for example due to a wrong movement or a collision. Think of spraining an ankle during football or straining your back during a wrong exercise in the gym. The remaining injuries develop gradually, usually as a result of overload - a risk that is often underestimated, especially among runners and fitness enthusiasts.

It is striking that 57% of injuries occur acutely among runners, despite the fact that this sport is often seen as relatively 'safe'. These figures underline that solo athletes are also at risk, certainly without good preparation or technique.

Sick of the sidelines
Injuries aren’t just painful – they take the fun out of sports. 65% of injured athletes were unable to play sports due to their injury, with an average absence of 18 days. Even more worrying, almost 20% of injuries are recurrent. Without proper treatment or preventative measures, many athletes remain stuck in a vicious cycle of injury – recovery – repetition.

Why do people stop exercising?
Those who need to recover for a long time lose motivation. This certainly applies to recreational athletes who use sports as a relaxation or fitness goal. The threshold for returning after an injury is often high, especially if there is fear of recurrence or recovery is slow. Injuries thus become one of the main reasons to stop playing sports altogether.

What can we do? Prevention is key
The good news is that many injuries are preventable. Here are some proven strategies:
• Warm-up & cool-down:Prepare your body well and end training responsibly.
• Technique and guidance:Get coaching, especially if you are just starting out or doing heavy exercises.
• Listen to your body:Pain is never normal. Take signals seriously, and address them before they get worse.
• Use supporting aids:Herzog Compression stockings or braces can limit excessive strain and promote recovery.
• Build up slowly:Too much, too fast, too often is the number one cause of injury. Give your body time to adjust.

Support with Herzog compression stockings
A practical aid that is helping more and more athletes to prevent and recover from injuries are the Herzog compression stockings. These medically based stockings provide targeted pressure on the lower leg and help to reduce muscle vibrations, overload and fluid retention. They are widely used by runners, footballers and fitness enthusiasts, both preventively and in the recovery of, for example, shin splints, calf complaints or Achilles tendon problems. Thanks to the correct fit and pressure build-up, Herzog stockings not only support performance, but also ensure that athletes recover faster and spend less time on the sidelines.

Take the first signs seriously
Many athletes recognize it: slightly stiff calves after training, a nagging pain while walking or a tired feeling in the lower legs. It seems harmless and is often dismissed with the thought: "that will go away." But these early signals are crucial. They are the first warning light that your body gives. By taking action now - rest, adjusted training, possibly supporting compression - you prevent something small from developing into a persistent or even irreparable injury. Exercise smart, listen to your body and prevent a temporary discomfort from turning into long-term absence.

Sports should be sustainable, not risky
The figures from VeiligheidNL make one thing clear: injury prevention must be taken seriously. If we want sports to remain a healthy habit, we must also do it responsibly. By making smart choices – from training to recovery – you reduce the risk of failure and increase the enjoyment in the long term.

At Herzog, we believe it is important to contribute to this. Our compression socks are designed to support athletes in both preventing and recovering from injuries. Whether you exercise recreationally or train intensively: we believe that every athlete has the right to a body that moves with you, not against you. In this way, we help you to continue exercising responsibly and with confidence.