Nature of training injuries sustained by sub-elite rugby league players over three consecutive pre-season preparation periods
| Nature of injury | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Rate | 95% CI | Number | Rate | 95% CI | Number | Rate | 95% CI | |
| Values are reported as rates per 1000 training hours. CI, confidence interval. | |||||||||
| *Significant differences (p<0.05) among 2001, 2002, and 2003 seasons. | |||||||||
| Muscular strains | 90 | 62.4 | 49.5 to 75.3* | 27 | 23.2 | 14.4 to 31.9 | 29 | 19.6 | 12.5 to 26.8 |
| Joint sprains | 50 | 34.7 | 25.1 to 44.3* | 17 | 14.6 | 7.7 to 21.5 | 22 | 14.9 | 8.7 to 21.1 |
| Blisters | 20 | 13.9 | 7.8 to 19.9 | 7 | 6.0 | 1.6 to 10.5 | 11 | 7.4 | 3.0 to 11.8 |
| Abrasions | 18 | 12.5 | 6.7 to 18.2 | 24 | 20.6 | 12.4 to 28.8 | 20 | 13.5 | 7.6 to 19.5 |
| Contusions | 18 | 12.5 | 6.7 to 18.2 | 18 | 15.4 | 8.3 to 22.6 | 16 | 10.8 | 5.5 to 16.1 |
| Haematomas | 11 | 7.6 | 3.1 to 12.1* | 4 | 3.4 | 0.1 to 6.8 | 2 | 1.4 | 0.0 to 3.2 |
| Fractures/dislocations | 2 | 1.4 | 0.0 to 3.3 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.0 to 2.5 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.0 to 4.3 |
| Lacerations | 1 | 0.7 | 0.0 to 2.1 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.0 to 2.5 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.0 to 4.3 |
| Concussions | – | – | – | 2 | 1.7 | 0.0 to 4.1 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.0 to 2.0 |
| Other | 16 | 11.1 | 5.7 to 16.5 | 9 | 7.7 | 2.7 to 12.8 | 9 | 6.1 | 2.1 to 10.1 |