title: Epidemiology of injuries in hurling: a prospective study 2007-2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hurling is a stick handling game which, although native to Ireland, has international reach and presence. The aim of this study was to report incidence and type of injuries incurred by elite male hurling players over five consecutive playing seasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male intercounty elite sports teams participating in the National GAA Injury Database, 2007-2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 856 players in 25 county teams were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence, nature and mechanism of injury were recorded by team physicians or physiotherapists to a secure online data collection portal. Time-loss injury rates per 1000 training and match play hours were calculated and injury proportions were expressed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 1030 injuries were registered, giving a rate of 1.2 injuries per player. These were sustained by 71% (n=608) of players. Injury incidence rate was 2.99 (95% CI 2.68 to 3.30) per 1000 training hours and 61.75 (56.75 to 66.75) per 1000 match hours. Direct player-to-player contact was recorded in 38.6% injuries, with sprinting (24.5%) and landing (13.7%) the next most commonly reported injury mechanisms. Median duration of time absent from training or games, where the player was able to return in the same season, was 12 days (range 2-127 days). The majority (68.3%) of injuries occurred in the lower limbs, with 18.6% in the upper limbs. The trunk and head/neck regions accounted for 8.6% and 4.1% injuries, respectively. The distribution of injury type was significantly different (p<0.001) between upper and lower extremities: fractures (upper 36.1%, lower 1.5%), muscle strain (upper 5.2%, lower 45.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide stable, multiannual data on injury patterns in hurling, identifying the most common injury problems. This is the first step in applying a systematic, theory-driven injury prevention model in the sport.
authors.affiliation: UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Edwenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University College, London, Twickenham, UK.
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gissane
authors.affiliation: Medfit Proactive Healthcare, Blackrock, Ireland.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athletic Injuries; Epidemiology; Incidence; Sports Medicine