As the Six Nations Rugby gets underway, our focus for this blog is on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries that we see commonly among Rugby players – and also whether anything can be done to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.
How common are injuries in rugby?
University of Bath study: A five-year study, led by researchers at the University of Bath and published in the journal Injury Prevention in October 2023, found that injury risks for popular sports are rising across the world. The researchers were unable to identify why more people are getting injured playing sport, but believe the fact that trauma data recording has improved may be a contributory factor. They called for more research to understand the trend.
While Rugby is not one of the three sports identified as having the highest chance of injury (which are motorsports, equestrian-related pursuits and gliding – paragliding or hang gliding), nevertheless in the study’s comparison of the 15 highest overall incidence of injury in sport, the number of injuries linked to Rugby are high. There were 490 recorded Rugby-related injuries over the six-year study period – higher than snow sports, climbing and gymnastics.
England Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project: This concurs with the findings of the England Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project. It presented its 2019-20 report on the number of match injuries during a year that included the Rugby World Cup in Japan and the outbreak of Covid 19 (which resulted in the season being suspended three-quarters of the way through). When competition resumed, the Professional Game Board agreed a schedule that included mid-week matches.
The report found that the number of injuries was 88 per 1000 hours of play, which equates to around 59 injuries per club, or almost two injuries per club per match during the 2019-20 season. The tackle accounted for 52% of all injuries, with concussion being the most common type of injury. The report identified a 16% increase in tackle-related injuries from 2013/14 to 2019/20. Fourteen players were forced to retire as a result of injury in 2019-20. Seven of them sustained head/neck injuries, six had lower limb injuries and one had an upper limb injury.
Common injuries among Rugby players
As a fast-moving contact sport, many of the injuries in Rugby are caused by collisions and falls. A 10-year review of Rugby-related injuries seen in an emergency department, which was published in Cureus in June 2023, found that the most common injuries affect the head (23.1%), face (13.8%) and shoulder (12.4%). Just under a quarter (22.3%) of injuries sustained are fractures, followed by sprains (18.5%). Concussion is also common (11.2%).
Carrothers Orthopaedics treats a whole range of injuries among Rugby players, including: limb fractures; foot and ankle injuries; sprained and torn ligaments and tendons (particularly in the knee joint which is subject to rotational forces from the sudden changes in direction during a Rugby game), dislocations; severe bruising and cuts.
While some of these injuries may be mild and can be treated at home using the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation), others require medical treatment. If you suspect a fracture, dislocation or concussion you should seek urgent medical attention.
Diagnosing Rugby-related injuries
While many injuries in Rugby are the result of some kind of trauma (an awkward fall, tackle or collision), others can be chronic injuries which develop over the long-term as a result of overuse or poor form. During a consultation, the doctor will ask about how and when the symptoms developed. They will carry out a physical examination of the damaged area, including checking for movement and whether you can bear weight on it, as well as assessing for tenderness when pressure is applied. Swelling may develop soon after the injury occurs. You may experience swelling in the joint (effusion), soft tissues (oedema) or due to bleeding in the soft tissues (haematoma). Instability in the joint can be a sign of ligament injury and you may also experience weakness due to muscle or tendon damage or numbness/tingling as a result of nerve damage.
Alongside a physical examination, you may require a diagnostic imaging test (X-ray, MRI, CT or ultrasound scan) to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.
Treating Rugby-related injuries
The treatment you are given will depend on the type and severity of the injury. In some cases, rest and at home treatment is sufficient while more serious injuries may require immobilisation, painkilling medications or injections, physiotherapy or surgery.
Preventing Rugby-related injuries
While it is not always possible to prevent accidents, having good technique, wearing the right footwear, warming up and cooling down properly, stretching and maintaining a good level of health and fitness can all help to reduce the risk of getting injured.
If you have suffered an injury during Rugby or another sport, contact us for information on diagnosis and treatment options.
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