Rugby is one of the top sports in the world, with over 9.6 million players across 130 countries. As with any sport, injuries happen!
Understanding the common injuries in this popular sport allows you to prepare for possible injuries, and what to do if they arise. Recovery from injuries can be tough, that’s why it’s important to know who to turn to and how to handle these periods.
So, when are Rugby injuries most likely to happen?
- 57% of injuries happen during a match rather than in training, and more often in the second half of the game.
- 61% of injuries are to the tackler and 39% are to the person carrying the ball.
What types of injuries are common in Rugby?
Over 40% of injuries are muscular (tears, contusions, bruising etc), but other common injuries include sprains (such as ligament tears), concussions, dislocations, fractures and lacerations. We don’t say this to scare you, but it’s good to know what you may be facing! 24% of injuries happen to the head, neck or face, with 21% happening to the upper limbs, 5% to the trunk and 48% to lower half of the body. Among head injuries, 44% are concussions.
Rugby injuries can be split into three main types:
1. Overuse Injuries
Rugby involves a lot of repeated high intensity efforts, therefore overusing particular structures is common. Tendinopathy in the Knee/Achilles and medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) are common over use injuries. These are not considered “serious” injuries, but they can gradually affect performance and if left will lead to more complex issues.
2. Traumatic Injuries
Rugby is a contact sport, therefore traumatic injuries do happen. They can include fractured bones, dislocated shoulders/elbows/fingers, cuts, sprained ligaments and strained muscles or tendons. These types of injuries will have a specific mechanism of injury that you can recall and will have a large effect on performance or leave you unable to continue. It is important to get these diagnosed as soon as possible and not just rest, to avoid it becoming a re-occurring injury.
3. Concussions
Concussion is described as a traumatic injury, but as it is such an important issue not to be missed! As a contact sport, there will be impacts involving collisions and whiplash movements of the head. A concussion doesn’t always happen because of a direct impact with the head – it can come from sharp decelerations of the head. It is a traumatic brain injury that should be looked for in every collusion. Confusion, memory loss, dizziness, blurred vision and a headache are a few of the possible symptoms of a concussion. Rugby players are traditionally tough and may attempt to continue or return to play after a concussion. However, every player with a suspected concussion should be removed from the training or game immediately and not return even if they feel better after a few minutes. It is very important that players are properly evaluated and cleared for play from a qualified medical professional who is experienced with concussion management.
How are Rugby injuries treated?
Getting to the right person to correctly diagnose your injury is crucial for optimal recovery. The specialist will be able to diagnose and guide you on the best course of action to recover sustainably, guide any concerns you may have and optimise your performance. An individualised rehabilitation program should be in place, and not to be compared to another. Each injury may have differing effects on people, so we recommend you follow your plan provided by your sports therapist.
A good sports therapist will analyse your body movements, joints and muscles to prevent future injuries. For example, a player may be more prone to spraining their ankle if they have weak hips. The treatment of specific injuries is all based on a clear diagnosis of the injury and any underlying factors, followed up by the demands of the athlete, both positional and level they are playing at.
A treatment and rehabilitation plan are put into place which may include manual treatment: such as mobilisations / manipulations, specific massage or soft tissue techniques, acupuncture, electrotherapy. Rehabilitation plans often contain strengthening exercises, flexibility / mobility, running drills, contact drills etc. In conjunction with one another, these programs progressively to allow the athlete back in to rugby gradually and without the risk of re-occurrence.
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