Influence of preseason training, fitness, and existing injury on subsequent rugby injury

Rugby union is a team sport involving contact and collision of players running at fast speeds, 1 and consequently has a high injury rate. 2Since the advent of professionalism in rugby union in October 1995 [3][4][5] professional players have become full-time athletes, with a greater emphasis on training for strength, speed and stamina, 6 increase in size, 5,7 speed and power, 4,5 and improvement in rugby skills. 3Professional rugby players sustain considerably more injuries than amateur players, 3,6,8 probably as a result of the greater size of the players, the faster pace at which the game is played, and the greater impact forces associated with these changes. 3,9,10The Super 14 (previously the Super 12) is a popular professional rugby tournament between regional sides from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Since the inception of this tournament, professional rugby union players have played significantly more rugby matches each year. Many elite South African players, who also play in national provincial tournament and international matches, may participate in as many as 35 matches in one season.The multiplicity of factors that contribute to injury in rugby union makes it difficult to identify causality.9 However, to adequately condition players, reduce their risk of injury, and treat and rehabilitate rugby injuries appropriately, it is important to gain a better understanding of the nature and causes of rugby injuries, in particular their association with training. 2 Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of injuries in a professional South African Super 12 rugby team over 3 years (2002 -2004), and to identify any associations between injury rates and the mode and volume of training. Methods ParticipantsDuring the off-season 40 contracted players were selected to form part of the Super 12 rugby union training squad. Twenty-two of the initial 40 players were forwards, and 18 were backline players. In February, the number of contracted players was reduced to 28 (15 forwards and 13 backline players). The injured players in this study (N=38) were all male (26±2 years of age). In accordance with similar research, 11 and due to the nature of the professional game, the individuals who comprised the squad varied over the 3 years. Ten orIgInal research arTIcle Training volume and injury incidence in a professional rugby union team abstract objective. To describe the incidence of injuries in a professional rugby team, and to identify any associations between injury rates and training volume.Methods. This retrospective, descriptive study included all injuries diagnosed as grade 1 and above in a South African Super 12 rugby team. Injury incidence and injury rates were calculated and compared with training volume and hours of match play.results. Thirty-eight male rugby players were injured during the study period. The total number of annual injuries decreased from 50 (2002) conclusions. One has to be cognisant of the balance between performance improvement and injury risk when designing t...

Section: Injury Incidencementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rugby union is a team sport involving contact and collision of players running at fast speeds, 1 and consequently has a high injury rate.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Training volume and injury incidence in a professional rugby union team

Viljoen¹,

Saunders²,

Hechter³

et al. 2009

“…8 It is imperative that injured rugby players be fully recovered and conditioned before returning to game situations, in order to avoid further injury, further time off, and possibly a reduction in length of their rugby careers. 35 …”

Section: Mechanism Of Injurymentioning

confidence: 99%

BokSmart: Preventive rehabilitation for rugby injuries to the lower back and core

Hopkins¹

2008

Background. The low back is an integral part of the entire movement chain as it functions as part of a complex network of the skeletal, muscular and nervous system. Eighty to 90% of acute low back pain episodes dissipate within 8 -12 weeks regardless of any intervention, but 5 -10% regress into chronic low back pain. As a result of its undistinguished aetiology, the treatment for low back pain remains controversial. Treatment options for low back pain include the following: analgesics, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, epidural steroid injections, manipulation, back schools, electromyographic biofeedback, traction, orthoses, behaviour therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and exercise therapy.Results. Therapeutic exercises for low back pain have been shown in 6 different randomised controlled trials to be beneficial in reducing pain by up to 60% and improving functional ability by up to 47%. Furthermore, a Cochrane review on low back pain found strong evidence that exercise therapy is an effective intervention in the treatment of low back pain. When prescribing exercises for an individual with low back pain the following goals need to be considered: (i) improve performance in endurance activities; (ii) improve muscular strength around the spine; (iii) eliminate any impairments in spinal flexibility; (iv) reduce the intensity of the pain being experienced by the individual; and (v) reduce back pain-related disability. A rugby player will have increased core stability/strength and a reduced risk of injury if the internal support mechanisms of the spine have been conditioned to resist distortion or injury from external forces. Not only will improved core

“…6,7,22 Most school coaches, advocates of talent development and selectors put a high priority on the above abilities and implement programmes to develop bigger, stronger, faster and more skilful players who can excel at their sport. 6,8,23 However, these programmes do not place enough emphasis on the prevention 15,20,23,30 and rehabilitation 5,12,16 of previous injuries. Consequently, the rate of injuries at senior-school level may continue to increase unless preventive measures -sufficient for the modern game -are adopted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a prevention programme on the incidence of rugby injuries among 15- and 16-year-old schoolboys

Erasmus¹,

Spamer²

2007

Objective. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of an injury prevention programme on the incidence of rugby injuries (overall, intrinsic and extrinsic injuries) among 15-and 16-year-old schoolboys, over a 2-year period. A secondary aim was to identify the percentage of intrinsic rugby injuries associated with a previous injury history. Design.A non-equivalent experimental-control group design with multiple post-tests. Subjects.A-and B-team rugby players (N =120) from 2 secondary schools in the North West province of South Africa.Intervention. The injury prevention programme was planned according to the physical, motor, biomechanical and postural status of all players. Players in the experimental group received exercises to improve biomechanical and postural deficits identified, as well as drills to address shortcomings in speed, agility, and explosive power. Main outcome measures.Rugby injuries were screened and injury data collected through the use of weekly sportsmedicine clinics.Results. Differences and changes in extrinsic injury incidence in this study could not be attributed to the effect of the prevention programme, and as a result injury trends related to overall injury incidence were inconsistent when the matching experimental and control groups were compared. However, the prevention programme did have a positive effect on the intrinsic injury incidence of both the CORRESPONDENCE:E J Spamer School for Continuing Teachers' Education North-West University: Potchefstroom Campus Private Bag X6001