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Lopez V, Ma R, Weinstein MG, Hume PA, Cantu RC, Victoria C, Queler SC, Webb KJA, Allen AA. United States Under-19 Rugby-7s: Incidence and Nature of Match Injuries During a 5-year Epidemiological Study. SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN 2020; 6:41. [PMID: 32852666 PMCID: PMC7452962 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-020-00261-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background There is a lack of injury data for the new Olympic sport of Rugby-7s, particularly for involved youth. Objective To determine injury rates and characteristics for players participating in U.S. Rugby-7s U19 (under 19 years of age) tournaments. Methods Injury data were collected, using the Rugby Injury Survey & Evaluation report methodology, at 24 U.S. Rugby-7 s U19 tournaments over 30 tournament days (2010–2014). Tournament medical-attention injuries and time-loss injuries (days absent before return to training/competition including post tournament) were recorded. Results During the 2101 playing hours (3072 males, aged 17.2 ± 1.5 years; 732 females, 16.6 ± 1.3 years of age), there were 173 tournament injuries with an overall injury incidence of 82.4/1000 player-match-hours (ph) (CI 70.5–95.6). Acute injuries (79.5/1000 ph) occurred during tackling (56.2/1000 ph) and involved joints/ligaments (32.8/1000 ph) of lower extremities (31.9/1000 ph). Head and neck injuries, including concussions, were common (males 21.9/1000 ph; females 22.0/1000 ph). Medical-attention injury incidences (49.5/1000 ph; n = 104; 95% CI 40.5–60.0) were higher than time loss (32.8/1000 ph; n = 69; 95% CI 25.5–41.6). Overall, injury incidences found no difference between sex (RR 0.78; p = 0.369). Time-loss injuries resulted in an average of 35.5 d to return to sport. Discussion This study is the first to report match injury incidences for U19 participants in Rugby-7s. Overall, match injury incidence among U.S. U19 Rugby-7s tournaments was similar compared to adult U.S. community Rugby-7s. Recurrent injury risk was notable in this population. Community injury surveillance studies are essential to understand risk from participation in amateur sports. Knowledge of these injury patterns in U19 Rugby-7s will help identify areas to direct resources to enable growth of Rugby-7s in youths and emerging countries being exposed to Rugby-7 s. Age-based injury frequency and patterns in rugby and its various formats are needed for the development of evidence-based, sport-specific, and population-specific injury prevention initiatives. Conclusions The match injury incidence of U19 participants in U.S. Rugby-7s was similar to the incidence among adult participants. Recurrent match injury risk was high at 23%. There were no significant differences in injury incidences between males and females. The first three matches of a tournament day result in the most injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lopez
- Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate Hospital for Special Surgery, 118-17 Union Turnpike, Suite 3B, New York, NY, 11375, USA. .,Auckland University of Technology, Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, New Zealand, AUT Millennium, 17 Antares Place, Mairangi Bay, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. .,USA Rugby Empire Geographic Union RFUs, P.O. Box 488, Bowling Green Station, New York, NY, 10274, USA. .,USA Rugby New England Geographic Union RFU, 2193 Commonwealth Ave, Box 364, Brighton, MA, 02135, USA. .,Northeast Rugby Academy, USA Rugby Development Program and USOC-Community Olympic Development Program, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Richard Ma
- Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate Hospital for Special Surgery, 118-17 Union Turnpike, Suite 3B, New York, NY, 11375, USA.,Auckland University of Technology, Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, New Zealand, AUT Millennium, 17 Antares Place, Mairangi Bay, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.,Northeast Rugby Academy, USA Rugby Development Program and USOC-Community Olympic Development Program, New York, NY, USA.,University of Missouri, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute & Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Meryle G Weinstein
- Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate Hospital for Special Surgery, 118-17 Union Turnpike, Suite 3B, New York, NY, 11375, USA.,New York University, Department of Applied Statistics, Social Sciences, and Humanities, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patria A Hume
- Auckland University of Technology, Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, New Zealand, AUT Millennium, 17 Antares Place, Mairangi Bay, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Cantu Concussion Center, Department of Neurosurgery and Sports Medicine, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, USA.,Neurologic Sports Injury Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Concussion Legacy Foundation, Waltham, MA, USA.,World Rugby, Independent Concussion Group, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Christian Victoria
- Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate Hospital for Special Surgery, 118-17 Union Turnpike, Suite 3B, New York, NY, 11375, USA.,New York University, College of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sophie C Queler
- Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate Hospital for Special Surgery, 118-17 Union Turnpike, Suite 3B, New York, NY, 11375, USA.,Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Khalil J A Webb
- Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate Hospital for Special Surgery, 118-17 Union Turnpike, Suite 3B, New York, NY, 11375, USA.,University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Answorth A Allen
- Sports Medicine Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.,National Basketball Association, New York Knickerbockers, New York, NY, USA.,USA Basketball, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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Ma R, Lopez V, Weinstein MG, Chen JL, Black CM, Gupta AT, Harbst JD, Victoria C, Allen AA. Injury Profile of American Women's Rugby-7s. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2017; 48:1957-66. [PMID: 27232243 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000000997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The objective of this study is to determine incidence (injuries/1000 playing hours (ph)), severity (days of absence), and cause of match injuries in US women's Rugby-7s. METHODS We performed a prospective epidemiological study (2010-2013) of injury of 3876 under-19 to elite/national female Rugby-7s players (nonelite = 3324, elite = 552) on 323 teams (nonelite = 277, elite = 46), applying methodology and injury definitions compliant with the international consensus statement on rugby research. Injuries occurred in USA Rugby-sanctioned tournament series: USA Rugby Local Area (2010), Territorial Union (2011-2013), National and All-Star Sevens Series, and USA Sevens Invitational (2011-2012) and Collegiate Rugby Championships (2012). RESULTS One hundred and twenty time-loss injuries were encountered (elite, n = 15; 13%) with an injury rate of 46.3 injuries/1000 ph. Injury rates in nonelite were 49.3/1000 ph, and in national level (elite) candidates, 32.6/1000 ph (RR = 1.5, P = 0.130). Mean days missed found elite level players at 74.9 d per injury, whereas nonelite at 41.8 d (P = 0.090). Acute injuries were significant (95%, RR = 1.9, P < 0.001), resulting in immediate removal from the pitch (56%, P < 0.001). The main mechanism of injury occurred when tackling players (73%, P < 0.001). The most common type of injury seen were ligament sprains (37%, 13.9/1000 ph), involving the lower extremity (45%, 20.5/1000 ph). The most common body parts injured were the knee and head/face (16%, 7.3/1000 ph). CONCLUSIONS Time-loss injuries occurred with frequency in the US women's Rugby-7s tournaments. Overall injury rates in US women are lower than those in international elite men and women's Rugby-7s. The head and neck area in our female players was injured at greater rates (16%) than in international male Rugby-7s (5%). Injury prevention in US women's Rugby-7s must focus on injuries of the knee, head, and neck. Understanding risk factors will allow safe return-to-play decisions and formulate injury prevention protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ma
- 1Missouri Orthopaedic Institute and Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; 2Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, New York, NY; 3USA Rugby Empire Geographic Union RFU, New York, NY; 4Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Rugby Codes Research Group, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND; 5Northeast Rugby Academy, USOC-Community Olympic Development Program, New York, NY; 6Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY; 7Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA; 8Department of Medical Physiatry, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, CANADA; 9Professional Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, New York, NY; 10Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, NY; 11Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY; 12New York Knickerbockers, National Basketball Association, New York, NY; and 13USA Basketball, Colorado Springs, CO
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Lopez V, Ma R, Weinstein MG, Cantu RC, Myers LSD, Nadkar NS, Victoria C, Allen AA. Concussive Injuries in Rugby 7s: An American Experience and Current Review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016; 48:1320-30. [PMID: 26829001 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000000892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is a comparative lack of concussion incidence data on the new Olympic sport Rugby 7s. This study aimed to determine the incidence (number of concussions per 1000 playing hours [ph]), mean and median severity (days absence), and cause of concussive injuries. METHODS This is a prospective epidemiology study, amateur to elite/national candidate, male (9768) and female (3876) players in USA Rugby sanctioned tournaments, compliant with the international consensus statement for studies in rugby union. RESULTS Concussions in US Rugby 7s were 7.7/1000 ph (n = 67). Women encountered concussions at 8.1/1000 ph, and men at 7.6/1000 ph (risk ratio [RR] = 1.10, P = 0.593). Elite/national-level players encountered concussions at higher rates (18.3/1000 ph) than lower levels (6.4/1000 ph; RR = 5.48, P < 0.001). Nonelite backs had higher concussive injury rates compared with forwards (7.7/1000 ph; 3.6/1000 ph; RR = 1.28, P = 0.024). Women missed 36.7 d absence from play, meanwhile men missed 27.9 d (P = 0.245). Retrospective history recall reflected previous concussive injuries occurred in 43% of the current study's cohort; of these, 57% encountered multiple concussions within 1 yr. The incidence of repetitive concussions was not statistically different between genders (RR = 1.09, P = 0.754). Most concussions occurred from tackles (63%) and collisions (24%) (P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS Sports-related concussions occurred with frequency among US amateur Rugby 7s players. US Elite tournament players sustained concussions at much higher rates than international male Rugby 7s counterparts. A substantial portion of US players who sustained a concussion had previous concussion injuries. Given the high rate of concussion, including repetitive concussive injuries, US Rugby 7s may benefit from concussion prevention measures similar to other contact sports such as instruction on proper tackling techniques, in-game and postgame medical assessment, and a standardized return-to-play protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lopez
- 1Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, New York, NY; 2USA Rugby Empire Geographic Union RFU, New York, NY; 3Rugby Codes Research Group, Sports Performance Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND; 4Northeast Rugby Academy, USOC-Sanctioned Olympic Development Program, New York, NY; 5Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; 6Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY; 7Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; 8Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; 9Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA; 10Department of Surgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA; 11Service of Sports Medicine, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA; 12Neurologic Sports Injury Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA; 13Concussion Legacy Foundation, Waltham, MA; 14World Rugby, Independent Concussion Group, Dublin, Ireland; 15Advanced Therapeutics Physical Therapy, Inc., Florence, MA; 16Department of Physical Therapy, Seton Hall University, South Orange Village, NJ; 17New York University, Global Institute of Public Health, New York, NY; 18Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY; 19National Basketball Association, New York Knickerbockers New York, NY; and 20USA Basketball, Colorado Springs, CO
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