Muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and in some sports, even the spine and brain may be affected in sports injuries. Because of the potential for life-threatening harm in rugby, this sport is followed by researchers across the globe. Detailed figures are collated on rugby injuries from schoolboy player’s right up to internationals. Audit of injury rates in rugby has been shown there is negligible injury in school boys under age 13. More injuries are seen as schoolboys progress through the teenage years, with the U19 level being the most dangerous for producing injuries.
Perhaps surprisingly, boys on first teams are 68% more injury prone than on lower teams. This statistic demands attention. Attributing factors are thought to include relative body height and weight in the pre-adult physique, speed, intensive training, more aggression in play and more risk taking at first team level (this being a common finding across all of late adolescence).
Analysis of injury type, whether it is a first injury or a re-occurrence, which tissues are involved, body areas (shoulder, thigh, knee, ankle), time of injury, and whether injuries occur early or late in the season are all being studied and correlated with information from sports such as soccer, GAA, International Rules, even American football. |
