title: Shoulder injuries in rugby players: mechanisms, examination, and rehabilitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sport of rugby is growing in popularity for players at the high school and collegiate levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article will provided the sports therapist with an introduction to the management of shoulder injuries in rugby players.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rugby matches results in frequent impacts and leveraging forces to the shoulder region during the tackling, scrums, rucks and maul components of the game. Rugby players frequently sustain contusion and impact injuries to the shoulder region, including injuries to the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular (AC), and glenohumeral (GH) joints. Players assessed during practices and matches should be screened for signs of fracture, cervical spine and brachial plexus injuries. A three phase program will be proposed to rehabilitate players with shoulder instabilities using rugby specific stabilization, proprioception, and strengthening exercises. A plan for return to play will be addressed including position-specific activities.
authors.affiliation: Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, 122 East 1700 South, Bldg C, Provo, UT 84606, United States. Electronic address: khelgeson@rmuohp.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helgeson
authors.affiliation: Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, 122 East 1700 South, Bldg C, Provo, UT 84606, United States. Electronic address: pstoneman@rmuohp.edu.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stoneman
mesh_terms: D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010808:Physical Examination; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation
keywords: Rehabilitation; Rugby; Shoulder injury; Tackling injury