Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries in the Australian Football League (AFL) over four seasons. Methods: An injury was defined as "any physical or medical condition that caused a player to miss a match in the regular season." The rationale for this definition was to eliminate a previously noted tendency of team recorders to interpret injury definitions subjectively. Administrative records of injury payments to players who did not play matches determined the occurrence of an injury. Results: The seasonal incidence of new injuries was 39 per club (of 40 players) per season (of 22 matches). The match injury incidence for AFL games was 25.7 injuries per 1000 player hours. The injury prevalence (percentage of players missing through injury in an average week) was 16%. The recurrence rate of injuries was 17%. The most common and prevalent injury was hamstring strain (six injuries per club per season, resulting in 21 missed matches per club per season), followed in prevalence by anterior cruciate ligament and groin injuries. Conclusions: The injury definition of this study does not produce incidence rates that are complete for all minor injuries. However, the determination of an injury is made by a single entity in exactly the same manner for all teams, which overcomes a significant methodological flaw present in other multiteam injury surveillance systems.

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Annual public reporting (by way of media release and reports available freely online) of injury rates, using units easily understood by laypeople, has been well received. It has also paved the way for rule changes with the primary goal of improving player safety.

The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between intrinsic (player-related) and extrinsic (environment-related) variables as risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament injury in Australian football. Between 1992 and 1999, 100,820 player-match exposures were analyzed for risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury using logistic regression analysis. There were 63 surgically proven noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The strongest risk factors were a player history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction either in the previous 12 months (relative risk [RR], 11.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.02 to 31.91) or before the previous 12 months (RR, 4.44; 95% CI, 2.46 to 8.01). Weather conditions that were associated with dry field conditions--high water evaporation in the month before the match (RR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.44 to 4.52) and low rainfall in the year before the match (RR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.30 to 6.32)--were also significantly associated with these injuries. The increased risk of injury in the first 12 months after reconstruction was associated with the reconstructed knee, whereas after 12 months there was an even distribution of new injuries to the reconstructed knee and contralateral knee. A history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a risk factor for further injury. Weather conditions of high evaporation and low rainfall before matches are associated with noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury.

ObjectiveTo determine injury profiles for the élite level competitions of football played in Australia. DesignOver the 1992 seasons, all injuries were prospectively recorded from 26 clubs in football competitions which included the Australian Football League (AFL), New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU). ResultsSome 2398 injuries were reported. In Australian Rules football, the most common injury was the hamstring tear (13%); this also accounted for the most time missed due to injury (16%). In rugby league and union, the most common injuries were head and facial lacerations (11% and 20%) followed by concussion (8% and 5%). The injuries accounting for most time missed were fractures and knee ligament injuries in the rugby codes. In Australian Rules football there were more lower limb muscle strain injuries, a high proportion of which were recurrences, with a significant incidence during training sessions. In the rugby codes, minor injuries to the head and neck were more common, particularly in forwards. While rugby league players suffered the most injuries, AFL injuries were on average more severe and consequently the total time missed through injury by players in these two codes was very similar. Rugby union had a significantly lower injury prevalence at the élite club competition level than rugby league or Australian Rules football. ConclusionInjury rates in the élite football competitions are high, warranting ongoing analysis and further study in particular areas.