Table 3.
Summary of pooled analysis of training injuries by total and participation level per 1000 training-hr with 95% confidence intervals and number of studies by player role, injury region, top four reported injury type and injury cause, injury severity and injury period for included published rugby league studies.
| Total |
Professional |
Elite |
Semi-Professional |
Amateur |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate (95%CI) n | Rate (95%CI) n | Rate (95%CI) n | Rate (95%CI) n | Rate (95%CI) n | |
| Player Role | |||||
| Forwards | 9.9f (9.0–10.9) 4 | N/R | N/R | 25.9df (23.2–28.9) 1 | 3.2c (2.6–3.9) 3 |
| Backs |
7.6e (6.8–8.5) 4 |
N/R |
N/R |
19.3de (17.0–22.0) 1 |
2.6c (2.1–3.2) 3 |
| Injury region | |||||
| Head-Neck | 0.8 (0.7–0.9) 10 | 0.3bcd (0.2–0.4) 2 | 8.8acd (7.2–10.8) 2 | 1.8abd (1.3–2.4) 3 | 0.7abc (0.5–1.1) 3 |
| Upper Limb | 1.0 (0.9–1.2) 9 | 0.2bcd (0.2–0.3) 2 | 9.6acd (7.9–11.7) 2 | 2.4ab (1.9–3.2) 3 | 2.8ab (2.0–3.9) 2 |
| Lower Limb | 8.1 (7.7–8.5) 9 | 10.6bc (9.4–11.9) 2 | 65.8acd (61.1–70.9) 2 | 36.2abd (33.7–38.7) 3 | 8.6bc (7.2–10.4) 2 |
| Chest-Back-Other |
1.7 (1.6–1.9) 9 |
0.7bc (0.6–0.8) 2 |
12.8acd (10.8–15.2) 2 |
6.0abd (5.0–7.1) 3 |
0.8bc (0.4–1.4) 2 |
| Injury type | |||||
| Abrasion | 8.0 (6.9–9.3) 4 | N/R | 11.5c (9.6–13.7) 2 | 4.3b (3.2–5.8) 2 | N/R |
| Blister | 6.6 (5.3–8.4) 2 | N/R | 6.6 (5.3–8.4) 2 | N/R | N/R |
| Strain | 4.2 (4.0–4.5) 10 | 0.8bcd (0.7–0.9) 3 | 25.9ab (23.0–29.2) 2 | 23.2ad (21.3–25.3) 3 | 5.0abc (3.9–6.3) 2 |
| Haematomas |
2.7 (2.1–3.5) 5 |
0.3bc (0.0–2.5) 1 |
3.4a (2.5–4.7) 2 |
2.6a (1.8–3.9) 2 |
N/R |
| Injury Cause | |||||
| Overexertion | 17.9 (16.6–19.3) 5 | N/R | 33.4cd (30.1–37.1) 2 | 20.5bd (18.4–22.8) 2 | 0.1bc (0.0–0.6) 1 |
| Contact | 13.9 (10.5–18.3) 1 | N/R | N/R | 13.9 (10.5–18.3) 1 | N/R |
| Collision Other | 8.6 (7.2–10.3) 3 | N/R | 8.7 (7.1–10.7) 2 | 8.2 (5.7–11.7) 1 | N/R |
| Fall |
8.3 (7.3–9.5) 4 |
N/R |
10.6c (8.8–12.8) 2 |
6.8d (5.6–8.2) 2 |
N/R |
| Injury Severity | |||||
| Transient | 8.2 (7.8–8.5) 9 | 2.4bcd (2.2–2.6) 3 | 83.4acd (75.0–92.8) 1 | 46.7abd (43.9–49.6) 3 | 4.6abc (3.6–5.9) 2 |
| Missed Match |
2.0 (7.3–9.5) 10 |
1.0bcd (0.9–1.2) 3 |
27.2acd (22.5–32.7) 1 |
3.4ab (2.7–4.3) 3 |
3.6ab (3.0–4.3) 3 |
| Training Period | |||||
| 1st half | 2.5f (2.0–3.1) 3 | N/R | N/R | N/R | 2.5f (2.0–3.1) 3 |
| 2nd half | 3.3e (2.8–4.1) 3 | N/R | N/R | N/R | 3.3e (2.8–4.1) 3 |
CI: Confidence Interval; n = number of studies; N/R = not reported; Significant difference (p < 0.05) than (a) = Professional; (b) = Elite; (c) = Semi-Professional; (d) = Amateur; (e) = 1st half; (f) = 2nd half.