British Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol 32, Issue 2 149-152, Copyright © 1998 by British Association of Sport and Medicine

Injury in summer rugby league football: the experiences of one club

C Gissane, D Jennings, J White and A Cumine
Department of Health Studies, Brunel University, Isleworth, Middlesex, United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the movement of the playing season from winter to summer would alter the risk of injury to players taking part in first team European professional rugby league. METHODS: The study design was a historical cohort design comparing winter and summer seasons in first team European rugby league, which recorded injuries received by players during match play. Each injury was classified according to site, type, player position, activity at the time of injury, and time off as a result of injury. RESULTS: The risk of injury when playing summer rugby league was higher than when playing winter rugby league (relative risk = 1.67 (95% confidence interval 1.18 to 2.17)). Both forwards (1.08 (0.28 to 1.88)) and backs (2.36 (2.03 to 2.69)) experienced an increased risk of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Summer rugby may have resulted in a shift of injury risk factors as exhibited by a change in injury patterns. This may be due to playing conditions, but there were also some law changes. Changes in playing style, team tactics, player equipment, fitness preparation, and the reduced preseason break may also have had confounding effects on injury risk.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Villwock, M. R., Meyer, E. G., Powell, J. W., Fouty, A. J., Haut, R. C. (2009). Football Playing Surface and Shoe Design Affect Rotational Traction. Am J Sports Med 37: 518-525 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sankey, R. A., Brooks, J. H. M., Kemp, S. P. T., Haddad, F. S. (2008). The Epidemiology of Ankle Injuries in Professional Rugby Union Players. Am J Sports Med 36: 2415-2424 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gabbett, T J (2004). Reductions in pre-season training loads reduce training injury rates in rugby league players. Br. J. Sports. Med. 38: 743-749 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gissane, C., Jennings, D., Kerr, K., White, J. (2003). Injury Rates in Rugby League Football: Impact of Change in Playing Season. Am J Sports Med 31: 954-958 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gabbett, T J, Hodgson Phillips, L (2003). Incidence of injury in semi-professional rugby league players * Commentary. Br. J. Sports. Med. 37: 36-44 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gabbett, T J (2002). Incidence of injury in amateur rugby league sevens. Br. J. Sports. Med. 36: 23-26 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gabbett, T. J (2000). Incidence, site, and nature of injuries in amateur rugby league over three consecutive seasons. Br. J. Sports. Med. 34: 98-103 [Abstract] [Full Text]