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461 Narrowing the gender gap in rugby injury epidemiology: a novel video-analysis study in the women’s game
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  1. Stephen West1,2,
  2. Isla Shill1,3,
  3. Jon Patricios4,
  4. Nicole Ainsworth5,6,7,
  5. Andrew Everett8,
  6. Jonathan George9,
  7. Bonnie Sutter10,11,
  8. Preston Wiley1,11,
  9. Carolyn Emery2,3,12,13,1,14,15
  1. 1Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  2. 2O’Brien Institute of Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  3. 3Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  4. 4Wits Sport and Health (WiSH), School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  5. 5Rugby Alberta, Calgary, Canada
  6. 6Calgary Rugby Union, Calgary, Canada
  7. 7Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Association, Calgary, Canada
  8. 8Department of Family Medicine, Queens University, Kingston, Canada
  9. 9Saracens Rugby Football Union, St.Albans, UK
  10. 10Dino’s Athletics, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  11. 11Sports Medicine Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  12. 12Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  13. 13McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  14. 14Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  15. 15Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

Abstract

Background Rugby Union has one of the highest risks of injury and concussion in team sports globally. Despite growing participation, little data exists surrounding injury rates and mechanisms in women’s rugby.

Objective To identify suspected injury and concussion events in women’s varsity rugby union

Design Video-analysis study using validated suspected injury definition criteria.

Setting University women’s rugby

Patients (or Participants) Women’s ‘Canada West’ varsity rugby athletes (2017–2019 seasons)

Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Video-analysis of game events leading to suspected injury and concussion

Main Outcome Measurements Suspected injury and concussion based on content validation and consensus by nine rugby-specific researchers, therapists, and sport medicine physicians

Results There were 225 suspected injuries recorded in 48 games (Injury rate (IR)= 115.1/1000 hours [95% CI;100.5–131.2] or 4.7 injuries per match). The on-field medical attention IR was 93.1/1000 hours (95% CI;80.1–107.6: 3.8 per game). Suspected concussions accounted for 26% of injuries (30.2/1000 hours: 95% CI;23.0–38.9: 1.2 per game). The attacking team sustained 64.0% of injuries. Removal from play was observed for 28.9% off suspected injuries. The most common injury locations were head/neck (28.4%) and lower extremity (27.6%). The tackle accounted for 67.1% of all injuries, with a propensity of 11.2/1000 tackle events (95% CI;9.5–13.2) or 3.1 tackle-related injuries/game. Of tackle-related injuries, 63.6% were to the ball carrier, while 52.2% of tackle-related concussions were to the ball carrier.

Conclusions This study adds to the growing body of literature examining women’s rugby union. The rate of suspected injury is high compared with other rugby injury studies. It is acknowledged that suspected injuries and not supported by prospective injury surveillance. The high proportion of tackle-related suspected injuries warrants further investigation into specific characteristics which may be associated with injury onset, and in particular concussion.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.422

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