Table 7

Incidence and mean severity of training injuries as a function of playing position and type of injury

Training injuries
Injury typeIncidence, injuries/1000 player-hours (95% CI)Mean severity, days (95% CI)
Main groupSubgroupForwardsBacksAll playersForwardsBacksAll players
BoneAll injuries0.2 (0.1 to 0.9)0.1 (0.0 to 1.0)0.2 (0.1 to 0.6)6.0 (2.1 to 9.9)6.0 (*)6.0 (3.7 to 8.3)
Fracture0.2 (0.1 to 0.9)0.1 (0.0 to 1.0)0.2 (0.1 to 0.6)6.0 (2.1 to 9.9)6.0 (*)6.0 (3.7 to 8.3)
Other bone injuries0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Joint (non-bone)/ligamentAll injuries0.9 (0.5 to 1.9)0.0 (–)0.5 (0.3 to 1.0)52.0 (0 to 115.0)52.0 (0 to 115.0)
Dislocation/subluxation0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Sprain/ligament0.5 (0.2 to 1.3)0.0 (–)0.3 (0.1 to 0.7)65.3 (0 to 186.0)65.3 (0 to 186.0)
Lesion of meniscus/cartilage/disc0.5 (0.2 to 1.3)0.0 (–)0.3 (0.1 to 0.7)38.8 (0 to 97.8)38.8 (0 to 97.8)
Muscle/tendonAll injuries1.5 (0.9 to 2.7)1.4 (0.7 to 2.6)1.5 (1.0 to 2.2)26.2 (7.4 to 45.1)15.1 (0.1 to 30.1)21.4 (8.9 to 33.8)
Muscle rupture/tear/strain/cramp1.1 (0.6 to 2.0)1.3 (0.7 to 2.4)1.2 (0.7 to 1.8)27.1 (5.0 to 49.2)15.9 (0 to 32.6)21.5 (7.8 to 35.2)
Tendon rupture/tendinopathy/bursitis0.1 (0.0 to 0.8)0.0 (–)0.1 (0.0 to 0.5)87.0 (*)87.0 (*)
Haematoma/contusion/bruise0.4 (0.1 to 1.1)0.1 (0.0 to 1.0)0.3 (0.1 to 0.7)3.3 (1.6 to 5.1)8.0 (*)4.5 (1.9 to 7.1)
SkinAll injuries0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Abrasion0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Laceration0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Brain/spinal cord/PNSAll injuries0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Concussion0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Structural brain injury0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Spinal cord compression/transection0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Nerve injury0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
OtherAll injuries0.0 (–)0.1 (0.0 to 1.0)0.1 (0.0 to 0.5)14.0 (*)14.0 (*)
Dental0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Visceral0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
Other injuries0.0 (–)0.1 (0.0 to 1.0)0.1 (0.0 to 0.5)14.0 (*)14.0 (*)
Injury type not identified0.0 (–)0.0 (–)0.0 (–)
All injury types2.7 (1.8 to 4.1)1.7 (0.9 to 2.9)2.2 (1.6 to 3.1)33.4 (9.2 to 57.6)14.3 (1.8 to 26.7)26.9 (10.2 to 43.5)
  • * Only one result in category.

  • PNS, peripheral nervous system;