Physical abuse is non-accidental physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child, that is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or other person who has responsibility for the child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caregiver intended to hurt the child. Many times, physical abuse results from inappropriate or excessive physical discipline.
Next to child neglect, physical abuse is the second most frequently reported form of child abuse, accounting for over 25% of all cases of child abuse.