Up to 1 in 4 rugby players will be injured during the rugby season.
A lower ranked or less skilled team within the division, a forward, being tackled, and beginning of the season are identified as risk factors for rugby injuries.
Risk factors considered for rugby injuries include:
The following graph shows the game events which lead to injury.
A lower ranked or less skilled team within the division, a forward, being tackled, and beginning of the season are identified as risk factors for rugby injuries.
Risk factors considered for rugby injuries include:
- Being a less skilled team
- Being a forward
- Being tackled
- Beginning of the season
- Being aged 25-34, however most injuries are experiences by 10-18 years old
The following graph shows the game events which lead to injury.
The following shows the occurrence of the nature of the injury.
Which occur most in the following body regions
INJURIES
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ANKLE SPRAIN
A sprain mostly occurs in the ankle. A sprained ankle occurs when ankle ligaments are overstretched. Ankle sprains vary in their severity, from a mild sprain through to severe complete ligament ruptures, avulsion fractures or broken bones. Sprained ankles are usually brought on by rolling your ankle or stepping on unstable/uneven ground. However more frequently in rugby, a sprained ankle will occur in a tackle. When the ball holder is tackled, his boot studs may stick in the ground, meanwhile his body and leg is being turned or rolled, resulting in unnatural movement for the ankle. Grade 1 sprain: Slight stretching and some damage to the fibers (fibrils) of the ligament. Grade 2 sprain: Partial tearing of the ligament. There will be looseness in ankle movement during passive movement Grade 3 sprain: Complete tear of the ligament. |
HEAD INJURIES
There are many different causes of head injury, but the most common causes of head injury in rugby are scrumming, unsafe tackling and dangerous falls. Head injuries range from minor facial and scalp lacerations, and broken noses to severe concussions. Concussions are graded as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3), depending on factors such as loss of consciousness, amnesia (loss of memory), and loss of balance. When suffering from concussion, people are often confused and dopey, as well as possibly feeling sick or losing consciousness for a small period of time. |
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ACROMIO CLAVICULAR JOINT (AC JOINT) SPRAIN
The AC Joint is located at the outside point of the collar bone where it attaches to the front of the shoulder blade. An AC joint sprain is when the ligament of the joint get damaged. An AC joint sprain usually occurs due to a specific case such as a direct blow to the point of the shoulder. This is common in contact sports due to a collision with another player or following a fall onto the point of the shoulder or direct force up the long axis of the humorous. A grade 1 injury to the AC joint is considered mild, the athlete will experience tenderness and discomfort, with painful movement of the joint. A grade 1 involves partial damage to the AC ligament. A Grade 2 injury will cause severe pain and greatly restrict movement of the shoulder. A grade 2 involves a complete rupture of the AC ligament and a partial tear of the coracoclavicular ligament. This causes the clavicle to move in an upward direction, leaving a visible bump on the shoulder. A grade 3 injury is a complete rupture of the AC ligament aswell as the coracoclavicular ligament. This results in a complete dislocation of the AC joint, forming a very noticeable bump in the shoulder. |
ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (ACL) SPRAIN
An ACL sprain is a common rugby-related knee injury. Although it is possible, ACL sprains usually do not occur as a result of a direct blow, but occur when pivoting or landing from a jump, causing the knee to give way from underneath an athlete and damage the ACL ligament. An athlete experiencing an injured ACL will have heard a popping noise and should expect swelling and severe pain in attempt to stand within two to twelve hours after the incident. A grade 1 sprain is a mildly damaged ligament which has been stretched, however the knee still remains stable. A grade 2 sprain is a stretch of the ligament to the point where it becomes loose, otherwise known as a partial tear. Grade 3 sprains are commonly referred to as a complete tear of the ACL ligament, this is where the ligament is completely split in two causing the knee joint to become unstable. |
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