Who doesn’t want to become a sports superstar? The life of an athlete may seem to be perfect from an outsider considering the perks, the fame, and the ability to get paid for doing what they love. What many haven’t thought of are the risks of being an athlete. One small move can end his/her career in a snap.

Before you consider training hard and becoming a sports superstar, you better read this first. Below are the career-ending injuries in sports:

Damaged Vertebrae

Damaged vertebrae is a common injury in sports especially those that are prone to falls or assaults. Some of the symptoms of a damaged vertebrae include loss of sensation, loss of muscle strength, and loss of bowel and bladder function. In many cases, sexual function may also be affected.

A famous athlete who had suffered from damaged vertebrae is NFL player Sterling Sharpe. Sharpe suffered from a damaged vertebrae after a game with the Falcons. Although he had neck injuries in the past, the injury he had from his last game had made him stop from playing the sport (as advised by his doctor).

Post-Concussion Syndrome

Post-concussion syndrome pertains to a complex condition that include symptoms like dizziness and headache. These symptoms usually last for weeks to months. This syndrome is usually a result of a sudden blow to the head.

Former athlete Nick Kypreos is a professional hockey player before a post-concussion syndrome forced him to early retirement.

Broken or Dislocated Jaw

A broken jaw can result from any blow or injury that damages the joint that connects the lower jawbone to the skull. It can be a result of accidental fall, physical assault in the face, or vehicle accidents.

Kirby Puckett is one of those celebrity athletes who already had two World Series titles before a ball hit his face so bad that it resulted into a broken jaw. While during his rehabilitation, Puckett suffered another condition, a glaucoma, which ended prematurely his career in sports.

Spinal Cord Contusion

Although most cases of spinal cord contusion results from vehicular accidents, athletes are also prone to this especially when playing contact sports. This what had happened to former NFL player Reggie Brown. His career as an athlete ended even before he rose to fame. Brown suffered from spinal cord contusion in a game in 1997. He was lucky though that he did not suffer from paralysis.

Crushed Larynx