The most recent comprehensive study of catastrophic sports injuries shows that serious head and neck injuries in football continue to occur much less frequently than they did in the 1960s and 1970s.

The 17th annual report from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research revealed that for 1998-99, the most recent year studied, college football was associated with eight catastrophic injuries, an increase of two compared to 1997 and four compared to 1995 and 1996. Those eight injuries included one fatality. One indirect fatality also occurred in football.

The report is written by Frederick O. Mueller of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Robert C. Cantu, M.D., of Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts. It examines catastrophic injury trends in selected high-school and college sports.

The authors noted that deaths and serious neck injuries in football have occurred far less frequently over the last decade than they did in the 1960s and '70s.

The study reported four permanent paralysis cervical spine injuries in 1998-99, all at the high-school level. "This number is low when compared to the 25 to 30 cases every year in the early 1970s," the report said.

The all-time high for direct football-related deaths was 36 in 1968. Seven occurred in 1998-99, six at the high-school level and one at a college.

Direct injuries are those that result from taking part in the actual activity, whether in a game or practice. An example of an indirect injury would be heat illness experienced in training or competition.

The authors noted that football catastrophic injuries may never be eliminated, but that progress has been made through the use of preventive measures. Those include:

A 1976 rule change that prohibited initial contact with the head in blocking and tackling. The authors encourage coaches and officials to continue to emphasize the rule.

The NOCSAE football helmet standard that went into effect at the college level in 1978 and at the high-school level in 1980.

Improved medical care for injured athletes.

Improved coaching techniques used in blocking and tackling fundamentals.

Beyond football, the authors noted perils connected with movable soccer goals and urged that close attention be paid to other sports, including:

Wrestling -- The concerns relate to rapid weight loss. Rules changes have been made to address the issue at both the high-school and college levels.

Men's and women's gymnastics -- Participation is down at the high-school and college levels, but serious injury rates are up.

Ice hockey -- Injuries are few in number, but the injury rate per 100,000 participants is high compared to other sports. Ice hockey catastrophic injuries usually occur when an athlete is struck from behind by an opponent and his or her head makes contact with the boards surrounding the rink.

Baseball -- Most catastrophic injuries in this sport result from head-first slides or being struck with a thrown or batted ball.

Track and field -- Most fatal injuries in track and field involve the pole vault.

The catastrophic injury study is funded through grants from the NCAA, the American Football Coaches Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Catastrophic-injury data, 1982-98

Direct injuries per 100,000 college participants

Males, 1982-98

Females, 1982-98

Indirect injuries per 100,000 college participants

Males, 1982-98

Females, 1982-98