Volume 29, Issue 157, March 2025

The impact of extreme sports on mental health: Is "No Risk No Fun" a healthy approach?

Karolina Kalinowska^1♦, Aleksandra Paprocka², Urszula Świrk³, Paulina Fijałek⁴, Jan Karczmarz⁴, Marika Gutowska⁵, Agnieszka Kosińska⁶, Wiktoria Belcarz⁷, Joanna Orzechowska⁸, Michał Orzechowski⁸

¹Health Care Team of the District Hospital in Sochaczew, Batalionów Chłopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland
²Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Clinical Hospital, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
³Independent Public Health Care Facilities in Przasnysz, Dr. Wojciech Oczko Hospital Sadowa 9, 06-300 Przasnysz, Poland
⁴Southern Hospital, Rotmistrza Witolda Pileckiego 99, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
⁵Józef Struś Multi-Specialist Municipal Hospital, Szwajcarska 3, 61-285, Poznań, Poland
⁶District Hospital in Chrzanów, Topolowa 16, 32-500 Chrzanów, Poland
⁷Murcki Hospital Sp. z o.o., Sokołowskiego 2, 40-749 Katowice, Poland
⁸Jędrzej Śniadecki Specialist Hospital in Nowy Sącz, Młyńska 10, 33 – 300 Nowy Sącz, Poland

^♦Corresponding Author
Health Care Team of the District Hospital in Sochaczew, Batalionów Chłopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This research explores the various aspects of extreme sports, especially their effect on human mental health. Results and discussion: Extreme sports play an essential role in the lives of many people, affecting both their mental and physical health. Not all extreme sports enthusiasts are alike, and they often get into these pursuits for reasons aside from the thrill and adrenaline. Some may want to find creativity, balance themselves emotionally, or achieve self-realization, while others seek ways to venture and learn. Extreme sports improve feelings, reduce tension, and increase emotional toughness. They also provide a means to develop bonds through activity. They promote healthy habits. However, extreme sports also carry the risk of negative consequences, such as injuries, adrenaline addiction, emotional burnout, and cognitive problems, including depression and social isolation. Conclusion: Extreme sports have significant effects on mental health. They can provide various benefits, such as improving mood, reducing stress, and developing personality. People can benefit from them by improving their mood, reducing stress, and developing their personalities. Conscious risk management and social support are key to minimizing adverse effects and fully utilizing the therapeutic potential of extreme sports.

Keywords: Extreme Sports, Mental Health, Adrenaline, Risk, Self-Awareness

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e49ms3536

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i157.e49ms3536

Published: 05 March 2025