Risk factors that predict severe injuries in university rugby sevens players.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate injury incidence and the influence of physical fitness parameters on the risk of severe injuries in players on rugby sevens university teams.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Rugby players from three universities (N=104; 90M:14F; 20.6±1.9years) were recruited before the beginning of the season. Players underwent pre-season assessments of power, strength, speed, agility, endurance, stability, and flexibility. Throughout the season, rugby-related injury and exposure data were collected. Potential predictor variables were analyzed using Cox proportional regression model to identify risk factors associated with severe injuries (time loss>28days).


RESULTS
Thirty-one injuries occurred during the rugby season. The match and training injury incidence rates were 59.3 injuries and 3.3 injuries per 1000 player-hours, respectively. Lower limb injuries were most common and most severe. The ankle joint was the most prevalent site of injury, and ligamentous injury was most common (48.4%). Nine severe injuries were sustained resulting in an average time loss of 51.3±14.6days. Female (hazard ratio [HR]=8.35; 95% confidence intervals [CI]=2.01-34.8), slower (HR=3.51; 95% CI=1.17-10.5), and less agile (HR=2.22; 95% CI=1.26-3.92) players as well as those with hip flexors tightness (HR=1.12; 95% CI=1.00-1.25) were at significantly greater risk for sustaining severe injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Limited studies are available on risk factors associated with amateur rugby players in the Sevens version. The development of gender-specific injury prevention measures that emphasize speed and agility training, and improve hip flexor extensibility may be important to reduce the risk of severe injuries.
Centre for Sports Training and Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Rezvan
R
Mirsafaei Rizi
Centre for Sports Training and Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Simon S
SS
Yeung
Hong Kong Rugby Union, Hong Kong.
Nathan J
NJ
Stewart
Centre for Sports Training and Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Electronic address: ella.yeung@polyu.edu.hk.
Ella W
EW
Yeung
D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Agility; Physical tests; Risk factors; Rugby injuries; Speed