Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume 10, Issue 3 , Pages 85-90, August 2009

A prospective epidemiological study of injuries to New Zealand premier club rugby union players

  • Anthony G. Schneiders

      Affiliations

    • School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, Dunedin, Otago 9001, New Zealand
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +64 3 479 5426; fax: +64 3 479 8414.
    • ,
  • Masahiro Takemura

      Affiliations

    • Graduate School of Human Comprehensive Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
    • ,
  • Craig A. Wassinger

      Affiliations

    • School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, Dunedin, Otago 9001, New Zealand

Received 15 February 2009; received in revised form 15 April 2009; accepted 11 May 2009. published online 15 June 2009.

Abstract 

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to document and analyse injuries sustained in premier grade rugby union over a competitive season and investigate the seasonal trend of injury incidence.

Design

A prospective epidemiological cohort study of injury.

Setting

Field-based collection of match-play injury data.

Participants

Two-hundred and seventy-one players from eight premier grade rugby union teams.

Main outcome measures

Injury incidence as a function of exposure and match round including descriptive statistical analysis of injury characteristics.

Results

Injury incidence during the season was 52 injuries per 1000 player-match hours (95% CI: 42–65). Poisson regression demonstrated a significant decrease in injury rate by 2% for each successive round throughout the season (p<0.04). Most injuries were sustained during the tackle resulting in soft tissue injuries to the lower limb.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrate an early season bias of injuries. The majority of injuries were classified as ‘slight’ with players returning to training or play within two days. The tackle was the phase of play which produced the most injuries consistent with previous research. Compared to analogous data collected 10 years previously, injury incidence of a similar cohort was considerably reduced.

Keywords: Prospective, Injury surveillance, Rugby, Football

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S1466-853X(09)00042-X

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2009.05.001

Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume 10, Issue 3 , Pages 85-90, August 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution