Incidence (number per 1000 player-hours) and severity (days absence) of specific injuries as a function of playing position
| Injury (region and diagnostic category) | Forwards | Backs | All | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incidence | Severity | Incidence | Severity | Incidence | Severity | |
| Superscript values in parentheses are the 10 most common injuries in each playing position. | ||||||
| *Excluding haematomas/contusions. | ||||||
| ACL, Anterior cruciate ligament; LCL, lateral collateral ligament; MCL, medial collateral ligament; PCL, posterior cruciate ligament. | ||||||
| Head/neck | ||||||
| Head/facial fracture | 0.78 | 39 | 0.51 | 23 | 0.66 | 33 |
| Concussion | 4.0 (5) | 14 | 4.9 (3) | 10 | 4.4 (3 = ) | 12 |
| Head/facial laceration | 1.1 | 6 | 0.51 | 4 | 0.83 | 6 |
| Cervical disc injury | 0.22 | 68 | – | – | 0.12 | 68 |
| Cervical facet joint injury | 2.9 | 12 | 1.0 | 6 | 2.0 | 10 |
| Cervical nerve root injury | 4.5 (3 = ) | 15 | 1.3 | 35 | 3.0 (8) | 19 |
| Shoulder | ||||||
| Haematoma, shoulder | 0.67 | 8 | 1.5 | 8 | 1.1 | 8 |
| Dislocation/instability, shoulder | 1.3 | 62 | 1.2 | 106 | 1.3 | 81 |
| Acromioclavicular joint injury | 3.6 (6) | 15 | 2.1 (10 = ) | 19 | 2.9 (9) | 17 |
| Rotator cuff/shoulder impingement | 2.2 | 24 | 1.8 | 23 | 2.0 | 23 |
| Arm/elbow/wrist/hand | ||||||
| Arm fracture | 0.11 | 49 | 0.13 | 75 | 0.12 | 62 |
| Wrist/hand fracture | 1.2 | 31 | 1.0 | 61 | 1.1 | 43 |
| Chest | ||||||
| Costochondral/sternal injury | 3.0 (9 = ) | 13 | 1.8 | 15 | 2.4 | 14 |
| Rib fracture/contusion | 1.7 | 12 | 1.8 | 10 | 1.7 | 11 |
| Thoracic/lumbar spine | ||||||
| Thoracic facet joint injury | 1.5 | 5 | 0.26 | 10 | 0.89 | 6 |
| Lumbar facet joint injury | 2.0 | 12 | 0.38 | 13 | 1.3 | 12 |
| Lumbar disc/nerve root injury | 1.3 | 29 | 0.90 | 52 | 1.1 | 38 |
| Lumbar soft tissue injury | 1.2 | 5 | 1.8 | 10 | 1.5 | 8 |
| Groin/hip/buttock | ||||||
| Haematoma, buttock/groin | 1.1 | 7 | 1.5 | 6 | 1.3 | 7 |
| Adductor muscle injury* | 2.0 | 9 | 3.1 (7 = ) | 14 | 2.5 (10) | 12 |
| Inguinal canal injury | 0.11 | 92 | 0.13 | 71 | 0.12 | 82 |
| Thigh | ||||||
| Hip flexor/quadriceps muscle injury* | 1.2 | 11 | 3.2 (6) | 9 | 2.2 | 10 |
| Haematoma, thigh | 7.4 (1) | 5 | 8.7 (1) | 6 | 8.0 (1) | 6 |
| Hamstring muscle injury* | 3.0 (9 = ) | 15 | 8.6 (2) | 18 | 5.6 (2) | 17 |
| Knee | ||||||
| MCL injury | 3.1 (8) | 26 | 3.1 (7 = ) | 36 | 3.1 (7) | 31 |
| ACL injury | 0.33 | 329 | 0.51 | 204 | 0.42 | 258 |
| PCL/LCL injury | 0.67 | 15 | 0.90 | 44 | 0.77 | 30 |
| Knee meniscal/articular cartilage injury | 2.3 | 44 | 2.1 (10 = ) | 34 | 2.2 | 40 |
| Patella tendon injury | 0.78 | 39 | 1.5 | 23 | 1.1 | 29 |
| Haematoma, knee | 1.0 | 7 | 1.5 | 7 | 1.3 | 7 |
| Knee joint sprain | 0.89 | 5 | 1.4 | 10 | 1.1 | 8 |
| Lower leg | ||||||
| Haematoma, calf/shin | 3.3 (7) | 4 | 4.0 (4) | 6 | 3.6 (6) | 5 |
| Calf muscle injury* | 5.7 (2) | 14 | 3.0 (9) | 10 | 4.4 (3 = ) | 12 |
| Tibia/fibula fracture | 0.33 | 129 | 0.38 | 103 | 0.36 | 116 |
| Achilles tendon injury | 1.5 | 56 | 0.26 | 19 | 0.89 | 51 |
| Inferior tibia-fibula syndesmosis injury | 1.0 | 25 | 1.3 | 15 | 1.1 | 20 |
| Ankle/heel/foot | ||||||
| Ankle joint capsule sprain | 0.78 | 7 | 1.4 | 8 | 1.1 | 8 |
| Lateral ankle ligament injury | 4.5 (3 = ) | 10 | 3.8 (5) | 14 | 4.2 (5) | 12 |
| Foot fracture | 0.45 | 27 | 0.38 | 67 | 0.42 | 44 |
| Foot stress fracture | 0.22 | 151 | – | – | 0.12 | 151 |
| Foot or toe joint sprain | 1.1 | 11 | 1.5 | 29 | 1.3 | 21 |
| Haematoma, foot or ankle | 0.78 | 9 | 1.3 | 7 | 1.0 | 8 |