Training Injury Incidence in an Amateur Women’s Rugby Union Team in New Zealand Over Two Consecutive Seasons
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Abstract
Objectives To describe the training injury incidence in amateur women’s rugby union in New Zealand over two consecutive seasons.
Design A prospective cohort observational study
Methods A total of 69 amateur women’s rugby 15s team playerswere observed. Training exposure and training injury incidence were calculated.
Results The 38 training injuries resulted in a total injury incidence of 11.4 (8.3–15.6) per 1,000 training-hours. There were 12 injuries that resulted in a time-loss injury incidence of 3.6 (95% CI: 2.0–6.3) per 1,000 training-hours. Forwards recorded more total (RR: 1.8 [95% CI: 0.9–3.5]; p = 0.0516) and time-loss (RR: 2.0 [95% CI: 0.6–6.6]; p = 0.2482) injuries than Backs. The tackle was the most common injury cause for total (3.0 [95% CI: 1.6–5.6] per 1,000 training-hours.) injuries, but collisions (1.5 [95% CI: 0.6–3.6] per 1,000 training-hours.) with the ground or another person were the most common cause for time-loss injuries.The training injuries occurred most often to the lower limb and during the latter part of training sessions. These injuries were mostly minor in nature resulting in minimal time-loss away from training.
Discussion The time-loss injury incidence (3.6 per 1,000 training-hours.) for the amateur women’s rugby 15s team players was higher than that reported for National (1.2 per 1,000 training-hours.) and Rugby World Cup for women (0.2 to 3.0 per 1,000 training-hours.) competitions.
Conclusion The training injury incidence in amateur women’s rugby union in New Zealand was higher than that reported for national and international rugby union injury incidences.