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The National Rugby Injury Surveillance Study (NRISS) of South Africa 2001–2002
Patterns of injury in schoolboy rugby union football A. Mclntosh *~, C. Finch2, P. McCrory3& J. Best4 ~School Of Safety Science, The University Of New South Wales ~lnjury Risk Management Research Centre, The University of New South Wales 3Brain Research Institute, Melbourne University 4The Australian Rugby Union
A two season randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of headgear in rugby union football is being conducted at UNSW. The study is funded by the International Rugby Board. The paper will report on the patterns of injury in one season of schoolboy rugby using data that have been recorded as part of the RCT study. Each match was monitored by a trained recorder who recorded game participation and injury events. A standard reporting form was used. Absence from training or matches due to injury was recorded. Injuries that resulted in these absences were followed up to obtain a more accurate injury diagnosis. A total of 1504 players from U13 (392), U15 (448) and school opens (664) participated in the study in the school cohort. The paper will report and compare injury rates based on body location, nature and mechanism of injury. For example the rates of match injury per 1000 hours of participation for U13 and U15 players were 33 and 39, respectively. Injuries to the lower limbs and head/face were most prevalent. Sprains/strains and superficial injuries were the most common nature of injury. The tackle, either being tackled or tackling, was found to be the most frequent mechanism of injury.
The National Rugby Injury Surveillance Study (NRISS) of South Africa 2 0 0 1 - 2 0 0 2 H. Donson* Medical Research Council Of South Africa, Capetown, South Africa
Objective. The recently launched National Rugby Injury Surveillance Study aims to provide information about the extent and scope of injuries of SA Rugby affiliated players. With increasing coverage, the NRISS will be able to identify injury prevention priorities in the unions (provinces) clubs and eventually schools. As such, the system provides an initial guide that may be used to inform efforts to reduce and prevent the extent of rugby injuries. Design: An ongoing national injury surveillance system of SA Rugby injuries. Outcome measures. Descriptive retrospective look at rugby injuries to South African rugby players between 2001 and 2002. Results. Of the data recorded in the NRISS database, nearly 200 episodes were Super12 injuries, 150 Test, 140 Trinations and 94 World sevens injuries. The highest single number of injuries recorded occurred to the inside centre followed by the scrumhalf and the hooker. Two-thirds of the injuries were suffered by the forwards while one-third were suffered by the backs. An overwhelming amount of injuries occurred to the upper extremity. Half of the spinal injuries were lumbar while one third were cervical. One player suffered two concussions three months apart. The first episode the player was due to precautionary measures, but continued playing after the second incident. Both concussion incidents were acute occurrences during open play. The most common mechanisms of injury were being tackled, being rucked, sudden overload and tackling. Conclusions. Essentially the game rugby is a risk insofar injuries is concerned in South Africa. Limitations to this study need to be addressed e.g. the buy-in by of all unions to address the scourge of injury that plagues South African rugby. We owe it to the players who places their 'life on the line' so to speak for the game, we owe it to the SA community who places demands on the teams to perform and win and pours huge money into the game, as well as the desire of aspirant rugby players at lower levels of the game who wishes to emulate their heroes, in some cases with disastrous consequences This system seeks collaboration with other rugby playing nations where intervention/prevention programmes and policies have yielded positive results. 45
A two season randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of headgear in rugby union football is being conducted at UNSW. The study is funded by the International Rugby Board. The paper will report on the patterns of injury in one season of schoolboy rugby using data that have been recorded as part of the RCT study. Each match was monitored by a trained recorder who recorded game participation and injury events. A standard reporting form was used. Absence from training or matches due to injury was recorded. Injuries that resulted in these absences were followed up to obtain a more accurate injury diagnosis. A total of 1504 players from U13 (392), U15 (448) and school opens (664) participated in the study in the school cohort. The paper will report and compare injury rates based on body location, nature and mechanism of injury. For example the rates of match injury per 1000 hours of participation for U13 and U15 players were 33 and 39, respectively. Injuries to the lower limbs and head/face were most prevalent. Sprains/strains and superficial injuries were the most common nature of injury. The tackle, either being tackled or tackling, was found to be the most frequent mechanism of injury.
The National Rugby Injury Surveillance Study (NRISS) of South Africa 2 0 0 1 - 2 0 0 2 H. Donson* Medical Research Council Of South Africa, Capetown, South Africa
Objective. The recently launched National Rugby Injury Surveillance Study aims to provide information about the extent and scope of injuries of SA Rugby affiliated players. With increasing coverage, the NRISS will be able to identify injury prevention priorities in the unions (provinces) clubs and eventually schools. As such, the system provides an initial guide that may be used to inform efforts to reduce and prevent the extent of rugby injuries. Design: An ongoing national injury surveillance system of SA Rugby injuries. Outcome measures. Descriptive retrospective look at rugby injuries to South African rugby players between 2001 and 2002. Results. Of the data recorded in the NRISS database, nearly 200 episodes were Super12 injuries, 150 Test, 140 Trinations and 94 World sevens injuries. The highest single number of injuries recorded occurred to the inside centre followed by the scrumhalf and the hooker. Two-thirds of the injuries were suffered by the forwards while one-third were suffered by the backs. An overwhelming amount of injuries occurred to the upper extremity. Half of the spinal injuries were lumbar while one third were cervical. One player suffered two concussions three months apart. The first episode the player was due to precautionary measures, but continued playing after the second incident. Both concussion incidents were acute occurrences during open play. The most common mechanisms of injury were being tackled, being rucked, sudden overload and tackling. Conclusions. Essentially the game rugby is a risk insofar injuries is concerned in South Africa. Limitations to this study need to be addressed e.g. the buy-in by of all unions to address the scourge of injury that plagues South African rugby. We owe it to the players who places their 'life on the line' so to speak for the game, we owe it to the SA community who places demands on the teams to perform and win and pours huge money into the game, as well as the desire of aspirant rugby players at lower levels of the game who wishes to emulate their heroes, in some cases with disastrous consequences This system seeks collaboration with other rugby playing nations where intervention/prevention programmes and policies have yielded positive results. 45