Injury in elite county-level hurling: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, prevalence and nature of sports injuries in elite male hurling players.


METHODS
Prospective study of county-grade hurling teams. Incidence, prevalence and descriptions of injuries were collated.


METHODS
Four county teams during the 2007 season; January to September inclusive.


METHODS
A total of 127 male players were followed over 34 weeks. Data were collected on a median (IQR) of 31 (30-32) players per team per week. The mean age was 23.3±2.5 years.


RESULTS
There were 204 injuries to 104 players (82%, 95% CI (74 to 88)). Injury incidence rate during match-play (102.5 (84.4 to 123.2)) was 19 times higher than for training (5.3 (4.2 to 6.5)) (RR=19.5 (14.8 to 25.6)). The mean weekly prevalence of injury was 13.9% (12.5 to 14.8). Most injuries were new (n=170, 83.3%, (77.6 to 87.8)) and acute (n=165, 80.9% (74.9 to 85.7)). Muscle strain (n=86) accounted for 42.2% (35.6 to 49) of the total. 71% of injuries were to the lower limb (n=143, (63.5 to 76.0)) with hamstring strain (n=33, 16.5% (11.8 to 21.8)) predominating. Fractures constituted 7.4% injuries (n=15, 95% CI (4.5 to 11.8)), 12 of which were to the upper limb. There were three (1.5% (0.5 to 4.2)) eye injuries and one concussion injury (0.5% (0.1 to 2.7)).


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide data on hurling injuries using definitions that reflect international consensus statements. Injury incidence from match-play in particular is high compared with other sports. These findings have relevance for clinicians and coaches.
UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
John C
JC
Murphy
Conor
C
Gissane
Catherine
C
Blake
D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014142:Track and Field / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult