scholarly journals 114 The influence of training volume on training and match injury risk in elite Scottish rugby union players

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Paul ◽  
Tom Campbell ◽  
Stuart Yule ◽  
Jack Walsh ◽  
Russell Martindale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Training Volume

scholarly journals Training volume and injury incidence in a professional rugby union team

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
W Viljoen ◽  
CJ Saunders ◽  
GD Hechter ◽  
KD Aginsky ◽  
HB Millson
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Training Volume ◽  
Injury Rates ◽  
Acute Injuries ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
Rugby Players

Objective. To describe the incidence of injuries in a professional rugby team, and to identify any associations between injury rates and training volume.Methods. This retrospective, descriptive study included all injuries diagnosed as grade 1 and above in a South African Super 12 rugby team. Injury incidence and injury rates were calculated and compared with training volume and hours of match play.Results. Thirty-eight male rugby players were injured during the study period. The total number of annual injuries decreased from 50 (2002) to 38 (2004) (χ2=0.84, p=0.36). The number of new injuries showed a similar trend (χ2=2.81, p=0.09), while the number of recurring injuries increased over the 3-year period. There was a tendency for total in-season injury rates to decrease over the 3 years (χ2=2.89, p=0.09). The pre-season injury rate increased significantly over the 3 years (χ2=12.7, pConclusions. One has to be cognisant of the balance between performance improvement and injury risk when designing training programmes for elite rugby players. Although the reduction in training volume was associated with a slight reduction in the number of acute injuries and in-season injury rates over the three seasons, the performance of the team changed from 3rd to 7th (2002 and 2004, respectively). Further studies are required to determine the optimal training necessary to improve rugby performancewhile reducing injury rates.

Patterns of training volume and injury risk in elite rugby union: An analysis of 1.5 million hours of training exposure over eleven seasons

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. West ◽  
Sean Williams ◽  
Simon P. T. Kemp ◽  
Matthew J. Cross ◽  
Carly McKay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Training Volume

scholarly journals Injury risk management in professional rugby players: Applications of GPS technology, functional movement screening and perceptual fatigue measures

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Tee
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Management Model ◽  
Training Volume ◽  
Match Play ◽  
Functional Movement ◽  
Movement Screening

Background: Rugby union is a team sport played in professional leagues worldwide. Injuries occur frequently in professional rugby union, at a rate of 81 injuries per 1000 playing hours (95% CI 63 - 105) (Williams et al., 2013). Thefrequency of injury within the professional game affects player wellbeing, as well as the overall performance of teams. As such it is necessary to develop strategies that will assist in minimizing the risk of injury to professional rugby union players.Methods: A previously established injury risk management model (Fuller, 2007c) was applied within a professional rugby union team environment to determine the effect of various risk factors on injuries. Specifically, the risk factors assessedwere the results of a pre-season functional movement screen (FMS), training volume and intensity and in-match player fatigue. Following risk factor assessment, global positioning system (GPS) monitoring was used to optimize training to match play.Results: It was determined that a low score (≤ 13) in the FMS test is a risk factor for injury. Furthermore, very high and low training volumes and high training intensities were also established as injury risk factors. GPS analysis establishedthe typical match play requirements of professional players. A comparison between these match play requirements and typical rugby union training activities determined that training was sub-optimal due to a lack of positional specificity. It was further determined that there are positional differences in theoccurrence of fatigue during matches, and that differing management approaches would be required.Conclusions: The injury risk management model identified a number of target areas for the reduction of injury risk among professional rugby union players. These include identifying “high-risk” players through pre-season movementscreening; monitoring training volume and intensity and player fatigue; improving the specificity of training for players in different positional groups and increased awareness of the injury risk associated with in-match player fatigue.

scholarly journals Implementation of the Activate injury prevention exercise programme in English schoolboy rugby union

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e001018
Author(s):  
Craig Barden ◽  
Keith A Stokes ◽  
Carly D McKay
Keyword(s):  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Exercise Programme ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Common Barriers ◽  
Perceptions Of School ◽  
Intervention Uptake

ObjectivesThe implementation of the Activate injury prevention exercise programme has not been assessed in an applied context. This study aimed to (1) describe the knowledge and perceptions of school rugby coaches and players towards injury risk, prevention and Activate and (2) evaluate Activate implementation in schoolboy rugby using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance framework.MethodsBespoke electronic surveys were administered to coaches (including support staff) and players at participating English schools (2018–2020). Most questions and statements were answered using a 7-point Likert scale. At baseline, participants detailed their Activate awareness and perceptions of injury risk and prevention in schoolboy rugby. At postseason, participants reported Activate use throughout the study and their perceptions towards the programme.ResultsAt baseline, significant differences existed between coaches (n=106) and players (n=571) in Activate awareness (75% and 13% respectively; χ2=173.5, p<0.001). Coaches perceived rugby had a significantly greater injury risk than players, while holding more positive perceptions towards injury prevention. At postseason, coaches reported greater Activate adoption compared with players (76% and 18% respectively; χ2=41.8, p<0.001); 45% of players were unaware if they used the programme. Median session adherence was twice weekly, with a median duration of 10–15 min. This suggests Activate was not implemented as intended, with recommendations of three 20 min sessions per week. Both groups identified common barriers to implementation, such as lack of time and inclusion of a ball.ConclusionCoaches are instrumental in the decision to implement Activate. Targeting behavioural change in these individuals is likely to have the greatest impact on intervention uptake.

scholarly journals A novel biomechanical injury risk score demonstrates correlation with lower limb posterior chain injury in fifty elite level rugby union athletes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhys Hughes ◽  
Matt Cross ◽  
Keith Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Risk Score ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Biomechanical Assessment ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
Hip Extension ◽  
Spearman’S Correlation ◽  
And Training

ABSTRACTObjectivesLower limb posterior chain injury (PCI) is common amongst athletic populations, with multi-factorial risk factors including age, previous injury, strength measurements, range of motion and training load. Biomechanics are commonly considered in the prevention and rehabilitation of PCI by performance staff. However, there is no documented testing method to assess for associations between biomechanics and PCI. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between an easily applicable, novel biomechanical assessment tool and PCI.MethodsFifty male elite-level rugby union athletes (age 22.83±5.08) participating in the highest tier of England were tested at the start of the 2019 pre-season period and PCIs (N=48) were recorded over the 2019/20 playing season. Participants’ biomechanics were analysed using two-dimensional video analysis against an Injury Risk Score (IRS) system in the performance of the combined movement – prone hip extension and knee flexion. Participants’ biomechanics in carrying out this movement were scored against the 10-point IRS, where the more compensatory movement recorded sees an increase in an individual’s IRS. Participants’ IRS were then compared against the number of PCI sustained and Spearman’s correlation coefficient was utilised for analysis.ResultsThere is a good significant association between IRS and PCI (R=0.573, p<0.001). Linear Regression demonstrated that an increase of 1 in IRS was associated with a 35% increase in PCI incidence (R2=0.346).ConclusionA good significance between the IRS and PCI provides preliminary support for its use as an injury risk assessment tool.

scholarly journals We know they train, but what do they do? Implications for coaches working with adolescent rugby union players

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padraic J Phibbs ◽  
Ben Jones ◽  
Gregory AB Roe ◽  
Dale B Read ◽  
Joshua Darrall-Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Positioning Systems ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
School Club

Limited information is available regarding the training loads of adolescent rugby union players. One-hundred and seventy male players (age 16.1 ± 1.0 years) were recruited from 10 teams representing two age categories (under-16 and under-18) and three playing standards (school, club and academy). Global positioning systems, accelerometers, heart rate and session-rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) methods were used to quantify mean session training loads. Session demands differed between age categories and playing standards. Under-18 academy players were exposed to the highest session training loads in terms of s-RPE (236 ± 42 AU), total distance (4176 ± 433 m), high speed running (1270 ± 288 m) and PlayerLoad™ (424 ± 56 AU). Schools players had the lowest session training loads in both respective age categories. Training loads and intensities increased with age and playing standard. Individual monitoring of training load is key to enable coaches to maximise player development and minimise injury risk.

scholarly journals On average, a professional rugby union player is more likely than not to sustain a concussion after 25 matches

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (15) ◽  
pp. 969-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Rafferty ◽  
Craig Ranson ◽  
Giles Oatley ◽  
Mohamed Mostafa ◽  
Prabhat Mathema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Injury Rates ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Concussive Injury ◽  
Over Time

ObjectivesTo investigate concussion injury rates, the likelihood of sustaining concussion relative to the number of rugby union matches and the risk of subsequent injury following concussion.MethodsA four-season (2012/2013–2015/2016) prospective cohort study of injuries in professional level (club and international) rugby union. Incidence (injuries/1000 player-match-hours), severity (days lost per injury) and number of professional matches conferring a large risk of concussion were determined. The risk of injury following concussion was assessed using a survival model.ResultsConcussion incidence increased from 7.9 (95% CI 5.1 to 11.7) to 21.5 injuries/1000 player-match-hours (95% CI 16.4 to 27.6) over the four seasons for combined club and international rugby union. Concussion severity was unchanged over time (median: 9 days). Players were at a greater risk of sustaining a concussion than not after an exposure of 25 matches (95% CI 19 to 32). Injury risk (any injury) was 38% greater (HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.56) following concussion than after a non-concussive injury. Injuries to the head and neck (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.70), upper limb (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.19 to 2.12), pelvic region (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.65) and the lower limb (HR 1.60; 95% CI 1.21 to 2.10) were more likely following concussion than after a non-concussive injury.ConclusionConcussion incidence increased, while severity remained unchanged, during the 4 years of this study. Playing more than 25 matches in the 2015/2016 season meant that sustaining concussion was more likely than not sustaining concussion. The 38% greater injury risk after concussive injury (compared with non-concussive injury) suggests return to play protocols warrant investigation.

Trends in match injury risk in professional male rugby union: a 16-season review of 10 851 match injuries in the English Premiership (2002–2019): the Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project

2020 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-102529
Author(s):  
Stephen W West ◽  
Lindsay Starling ◽  
Simon Kemp ◽  
Sean Williams ◽  
Matthew Cross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Injury Surveillance ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Match Play ◽  
Common Activity ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
The Mean

ObjectivesThe Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project is the largest and longest running rugby union injury surveillance project globally and focuses on the highest level of rugby in England.MethodsWe examined match injuries in professional men’s rugby over the period 2002/2003 to 2018/2019 and described trends in injuries over this time.ResultsOver the period 2002/2003–2018/2019, 10 851 injuries occurred in 1 24 952 hours of match play, equating to a mean of 57 injuries per club per season and one injury per team per match. The mean incidence, severity (days absence) and burden (days absence/1000 hours) of injury were 87/1000 hours (95% CI 82 to 92), 25 days (95% CI 22 to 28) and 2178 days/1000 hours (95% CI 1872 to 2484), respectively. The tackle accounted for 43% injuries with running the second most common activity during injury (12%). The most common injury location was the head/face with an incidence of 11.3/1000 hours, while the location with the highest overall burden was the knee (11.1 days/1000 hours). Long-term trends demonstrated stable injury incidence and proportion of injured players, but an increase in the mean and median severity of injuries. Concussion incidence, severity and burden increased from the 2009/2010 season onwards and from 2011 to 2019 concussion was the most common injury.ConclusionThe rise in overall injury severity and concussion incidence are the most significant findings from this work and demonstrate the need for continued efforts to reduce concussion risk as well as a greater understanding of changes in injury severity over time.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document