Is the risk of injury greater in some sport activities than in others? What types of injuries are most common? Are some children prone to sports injury? Are some physical, psychological, or sport-related factors associated with an increased risk of injury? Can injury be prevented and if so, how? Epidemiology of Pediatric Sport Injuries answers these and more questions which sports medicine personnel and coaches should be prepared to face. Focussed on team sports like Baseball, Basketball, Gridirion Football, Ice Hockey, Rugby, and Soccer, this publication integratively reviews the existing data on the distribution and determinants of injury in children and youth athletes. Further, the book includes a chapter on the identification of the epidemiological approach and concludes with suggestions of injury prevention measures and guidelines for further research. Together with the previous volume, Individual Sports, the two publications present the first comprehensive compilation and critical analysis of epidemiological data over a wide range of children’s and youth sports.
120 - 139: Rugby Injuries
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Published:2005
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Book Set: Medicine and Sport Science (Vol. 48+49) (Print) , Medicine and Sport Science (Vol. 48+49) (Online)Topic Article Package: Topic Article Package: Sports MedicineBook Series: Medicine and Sport Science
Andrew S. McIntosh, 2005. "Rugby Injuries", Epidemiology of Pediatric Sports Injuries: Team Sports, N. Maffulli, D.J. Caine
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Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this chapter is to review critically the existing studies onthe epidemiology of pediatric rugby injuries and discuss suggestions for injury preventionand further research. Data Sources: Data were sourced from the sports medicine and scienceliterature mainly since 1990, and from a prospective injury surveillance project inrugby undertaken by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney during 2002.Literature searches were performed using Medline and SportsDiscus. Main Results:Reported injury rates were between 7 and 18 injuries per 1,000 hours played, with the rate ofinjuries resulting in loss of playing or training time measured at 6.5-10.6 per 1,000 hoursplayed. Injury rates increased with age and level of qualification. Head injury and concussionaccounted for 10-40% of all injuries. In the UNSW study, concussion accounted for25% of injuries resulting in loss of playing or training time in the under 13 year age group.Upper and lower extremity injuries were equally apportioned, with musculoskeletal injuriesbeing the main type of injury. Fractures were observed in the upper extremity and ankle, andjoint/ligament injuries affected the shoulder, knee and ankle. The tackle was associated witharound 50% of all injuries. The scrum produced fewer injuries, but is historically associatedwith spinal cord injury. Conclusions: Rugby is a contact sport with injury risks related tophysical contact, primarily in the tackle. Most injuries affect the musculoskeletal system,with the exception of concussion. Spinal cord injury is rare, but catastrophic. Research isrequired to understand better injury risks and to reduce the incidence of shoulder, knee andankle joint injuries, concussion and spinal injury.
