010 Effects of a strength and proprioceptive training programme on neck function and concussion injury risk in elite scottish rugby union players

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.

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

10.1101/2021.02.02.21250855 ◽

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.

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

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching ◽

10.1177/1747954117694734 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 175-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

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.

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Rugby union needs a contact skill-training programme

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2016-096347 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (10) ◽

pp. 829-830 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sharief Hendricks ◽

Kevin Till ◽

James Craig Brown ◽

Ben Jones

Keyword(s):

Skill Training ◽

Training Programme ◽

Rugby Union

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Injury risk and a tackle ban in youth Rugby Union: reviewing the evidence and searching for targeted, effective interventions. A critical review

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2016-096322 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 50 (15) ◽

pp. 921-925 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Ross Tucker ◽

Martin Raftery ◽

Evert Verhagen

Keyword(s):

Critical Review ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Effective Interventions

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

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2017-098417 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (15) ◽

pp. 969-973 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

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.

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In-match physical demands on elite Japanese rugby union players using a global positioning system

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000659 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000659 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hayato Yamamoto ◽

Masanori Takemura ◽

Junta Iguchi ◽

Misato Tachibana ◽

Junzo Tsujita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Positioning System ◽

High Velocity ◽

Training Programme ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Study Data ◽

Positioning System ◽

Specific Training ◽

Physical Demands ◽

Global Positioning ◽

Training Programmes

ObjectivesOur aim of this study was to quantify the physical demands of elite rugby union players by each position as a step towards designing position-specific training programme using a Global Positioning System/accelerometer system.MethodsThis study was performed as a retrospective observational study. Data were obtained from 45 official matches. The sample size used for the analysis was 298. The per-match total distances, accelerations and impacts were calculated and statistically compared for the forwards and backs and for individual positions.ResultsTotal distances for the forwards and backs were 5731.1±507.8 and 6392.1±646.8 m, respectively. The high-velocity running distances (>18.0 km/hour) covered by the forwards and backs were 317.4±136.9 and 715.0±242.9 m, respectively. The number of accelerations (>1.5 m/s2) for the forwards and backs were 76.3±18.9 and 100.8±19.6 times, respectively, and the number of high impacts (>10 g) were 48.0±46.9 and 35.6±28.3 times for the forwards and backs, respectively. All characteristics were significantly different between the forwards and backs (p<0.05). The per-position characteristics were also calculated. Within the backs, scrum half (SH) and wingers (WTBs) covered high-velocity running significantly higher distance than fly-half (SH d=2.571, WTBs d=1.556) and centres (SH d=1.299, WTBs d=0.685) (p<0.05).ConclusionBy clarifying the physical demands according to the positions, it will be possible to create optimised position-specific training programmes.

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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

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2020-102529 ◽

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.

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Similar head impact acceleration measured using instrumented ear patches in a junior rugby union team during matches in comparison with other sports

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2015.12.peds15605 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 65-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Doug A. King ◽

Patria A. Hume ◽

Conor Gissane ◽

Trevor N. Clark

Keyword(s):

Injury Risk ◽

Linear Acceleration ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Head Impact ◽

American Football ◽

Football Players ◽

Head Impacts ◽

Impact Acceleration ◽

The Impact ◽

Rugby Players

OBJECTIVE Direct impact with the head and the inertial loading of the head have been postulated as major mechanisms of head-related injuries, such as concussion. METHODS This descriptive observational study was conducted to quantify the head impact acceleration characteristics in under-9-year-old junior rugby union players in New Zealand. The impact magnitude, frequency, and location were collected with a wireless head impact sensor that was worn by 14 junior rugby players who participated in 4 matches. RESULTS A total of 721 impacts > 10g were recorded. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of impacts per player was 46 (IQR 37–58), resulting in 10 (IQR 4–18) impacts to the head per player per match. The median impact magnitudes recorded were 15g (IQR 12g–21g) for linear acceleration and 2296 rad/sec2 (IQR 1352–4152 rad/sec2) for rotational acceleration. CONCLUSIONS There were 121 impacts (16.8%) above the rotational injury risk limit and 1 (0.1%) impact above the linear injury risk limit. The acceleration magnitude and number of head impacts in junior rugby union players were higher than those previously reported in similar age-group sports participants. The median linear acceleration for the under-9-year-old rugby players were similar to 7- to 8-year-old American football players, but lower than 9- to 12-year-old youth American football players. The median rotational accelerations measured were higher than the median and 95th percentiles in youth, high school, and collegiate American football players.

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