The epidemiology of ankle injuries in professional rugby union players.
BACKGROUND
Ankle injuries represent a considerable proportion of injuries to professional rugby union players; however, there is a scarcity of detailed epidemiology about these injuries.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiology and assess the risk factors associated with ankle injuries sustained by a cohort of professional rugby union players.


METHODS
Descriptive epidemiology study.


METHODS
Medical personnel prospectively reported time-loss injuries in professional rugby union in England, and the ankle injuries were evaluated.


RESULTS
Lateral ankle ligament injuries were the most common injury reported during matches and training, and together with Achilles tendon injuries, they accounted for more than half of the absence due to injury. The incidence rate of injuries was highest in second-row forwards. More than a quarter of injuries were recurrences.


CONCLUSIONS
Lateral ankle ligament injuries and Achilles tendon injuries should be a focus of injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies in professional rugby union players.
Sankey
R Andrew
RA
University College Hospital, London, England, UK.
Brooks
John H M
JH
Kemp
Simon P T
SP
Haddad
Fares S
FS
D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology