The benefit of regularly performed physical activity as a fundamental component of a healthy lifestyle is uncontradicted. The number of persons who participate in sports in Germany is approximately more than 40 million people, whereof 27.5 million are organised in sport associations. Every year 1.5-2 million sports injuries occur in Germany, which represent 25-30% of all accidents. The costs for treatment amount to a total of 1.5 billion euros. It is estimated that 80% of all sports injuries could be prevented if training and competition were performed correctly. The patterns and risk of injuries differ between particular sport disciplines and are therefore difficult to estimate. Knowledge of specific injury risks is indispensable for prevention of sports injuries. Furthermore this knowledge facilitates both sports physicians' diagnosis and therapy and guidance of the patient. In this review epidemiological data of sport traumatology are surveyed, patterns of injuries of particular sports are described in detail and prevention strategies are given. In a separate section specifics of sports injuries in children are discussed.