Injury Rates, Mechanisms, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Youth Rugby Union: What’s All the Ruck-Us About? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Background Rugby Union is a collision team sport played globally. Despite this, significant concerns have been raised regarding the sport’s safety, particularly in youth players. Given this, a review of injury rates, risk factors and prevention strategies is required across different youth age group...
Gespeichert in:
| Veröffentlicht in: | Sports medicine (Auckland) 2023-07, Vol.53 (7), p.1375-1393 |
|---|---|
| Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Artikel |
| Sprache: | eng |
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
| Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
| container_end_page | 1393 |
|---|---|
| container_issue | 7 |
| container_start_page | 1375 |
| container_title | Sports medicine (Auckland) |
| container_volume | 53 |
| creator | West, Stephen W. Shill, Isla J. Bailey, Stuart Syrydiuk, Reid A. Hayden, K. Alix Palmer, Debbie Black, Amanda M. Hagel, Brent E. Stokes, Keith A. Emery, Carolyn A. |
| description | Background
Rugby Union is a collision team sport played globally. Despite this, significant concerns have been raised regarding the sport’s safety, particularly in youth players. Given this, a review of injury rates, risk factors and prevention strategies is required across different youth age groups as well as in males and females.
Objective
The objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis was to investigate injury and concussion rates, risk factors and primary prevention strategies in youth rugby.
Methods
To be included, studies were required to report either rates, risk factors or prevention strategies in youth rugby and to have a randomised controlled trial, quasi-experimental, cohort, case control, or ecological study design. Exclusion criteria included non-peer-reviewed grey literature, conference abstracts, case studies, previous systematic reviews and studies not written in English. Nine databases were searched. The full search strategy and list of sources are available and pre-registered on PROSPERO (Ref: CRD42020208343). Each study was assessed for risk of bias using the Downs and Black quality assessment tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using a DerSimonian Laird random effect model for each age group and sex.
Results
Sixty-nine studies were included in this SR. The match injury rates (using a 24-h time-loss definition) were 40.2/1000 match hours (95% CI 13.9–66.5) in males and 69.0/1000 match hours (95% CI 46.8–91.2) in females. Concussion rates were 6.2/1000 player-hours (95% CI 5.0–7.4) for males and 33.9/1000 player-hours (95% CI: 24.1–43.7) for females. The most common injury site was lower extremity (males) and the head/neck (females). The most common injury type was ligament sprain (males) and concussion (females). The tackle was the most common event associated with injury in matches (55% male, 71% females). Median time loss was 21 days for males and 17 days for females. Twenty-three risk factors were reported. The risk factors with the strongest evidence were higher levels of play and increasing age. Primary injury prevention strategies were the focus of only eight studies and included law changes (
n
= 2), equipment (
n
= 4), education (
n
= 1) and training (
n
= 1). The prevention strategy with the most promising evidence was neuromuscular training. The primary limitations included a broad range of injury definitions (
n
= 9) and rate denominators (
n
= 11) used, as well as a limited number of studies which could |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z |
| format | Article |
| fullrecord | <record><control><sourceid>proquest_pubme</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_10290028</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><sourcerecordid>2814527807</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c475t-1112bc03f6f7fd0eb84df015b56cdf3536b236e18b126b11c5dd29d7964678653</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNp9kctu1DAYhS0EokPhBVggS2xYEGo78SVsqlFFoVIr0JQRYmU5jjPxNHGK7QxKV7wGEk_Hk9TTKeWyYOXL-f5jHx0AnmL0CiPED0KBCC8zRPIMYUFYdnUPzDBOVwTl9D6YIYxJhllB9sCjENYIISoK8hDs5RyXWOByBn6cuPXoJ7hQ0YSX8MzoVjkb-rRf2HABj5WOgw9QuRp-8GZjXLSDg-fRp4GVNQFaBz8PY2zhYlxVE1y6pL-Gn1oVf377HuC862BsTVL1RbZM5yrBh3AOz6cQTa-i1XBhNtZ8vXnjzESVKae6KdjwGDxoVBfMk9t1HyyP33w8epedvn97cjQ_zXTBacxwillplDes4U2NTCWKukGYVpTpuslpziqSM4NFhQmrMNa0rklZ85IVjAtG831wuPO9HKve1DqF9KqTl972yk9yUFb-rTjbytWwkRiREiEiksOLWwc_fBlNiLK3QZuuU84MY5BE4IISLhBP6PN_0PUw-pR4S5FScEH51pDsKO2HELxp7n6Dkdy2L3fty9S-vGlfXqWhZ3_muBv5VXcC8h0QkuRWxv9--z-216xFvWE</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Open Access Repository</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>2829878578</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Injury Rates, Mechanisms, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Youth Rugby Union: What’s All the Ruck-Us About? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis</title><source>MEDLINE</source><source>Springer Nature - Complete Springer Journals</source><creator>West, Stephen W. ; Shill, Isla J. ; Bailey, Stuart ; Syrydiuk, Reid A. ; Hayden, K. Alix ; Palmer, Debbie ; Black, Amanda M. ; Hagel, Brent E. ; Stokes, Keith A. ; Emery, Carolyn A.</creator><creatorcontrib>West, Stephen W. ; Shill, Isla J. ; Bailey, Stuart ; Syrydiuk, Reid A. ; Hayden, K. Alix ; Palmer, Debbie ; Black, Amanda M. ; Hagel, Brent E. ; Stokes, Keith A. ; Emery, Carolyn A.</creatorcontrib><description>Background
Rugby Union is a collision team sport played globally. Despite this, significant concerns have been raised regarding the sport’s safety, particularly in youth players. Given this, a review of injury rates, risk factors and prevention strategies is required across different youth age groups as well as in males and females.
Objective
The objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis was to investigate injury and concussion rates, risk factors and primary prevention strategies in youth rugby.
Methods
To be included, studies were required to report either rates, risk factors or prevention strategies in youth rugby and to have a randomised controlled trial, quasi-experimental, cohort, case control, or ecological study design. Exclusion criteria included non-peer-reviewed grey literature, conference abstracts, case studies, previous systematic reviews and studies not written in English. Nine databases were searched. The full search strategy and list of sources are available and pre-registered on PROSPERO (Ref: CRD42020208343). Each study was assessed for risk of bias using the Downs and Black quality assessment tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using a DerSimonian Laird random effect model for each age group and sex.
Results
Sixty-nine studies were included in this SR. The match injury rates (using a 24-h time-loss definition) were 40.2/1000 match hours (95% CI 13.9–66.5) in males and 69.0/1000 match hours (95% CI 46.8–91.2) in females. Concussion rates were 6.2/1000 player-hours (95% CI 5.0–7.4) for males and 33.9/1000 player-hours (95% CI: 24.1–43.7) for females. The most common injury site was lower extremity (males) and the head/neck (females). The most common injury type was ligament sprain (males) and concussion (females). The tackle was the most common event associated with injury in matches (55% male, 71% females). Median time loss was 21 days for males and 17 days for females. Twenty-three risk factors were reported. The risk factors with the strongest evidence were higher levels of play and increasing age. Primary injury prevention strategies were the focus of only eight studies and included law changes (
n
= 2), equipment (
n
= 4), education (
n
= 1) and training (
n
= 1). The prevention strategy with the most promising evidence was neuromuscular training. The primary limitations included a broad range of injury definitions (
n
= 9) and rate denominators (
n
= 11) used, as well as a limited number of studies which could be included in the meta-analysis for females (
n
= 2).
Conclusion
A focus on high-quality risk factor and primary prevention evaluation should be considered in future studies. Targeting primary prevention and stakeholder education remain key strategies in the prevention, recognition and management of injuries and concussions in youth rugby.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0112-1642</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1179-2035</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z</identifier><identifier>PMID: 37191819</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Cham: Springer International Publishing</publisher><subject>Adolescent ; Age ; Age groups ; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology ; Athletic Injuries - etiology ; Athletic Injuries - prevention & control ; Brain Concussion - complications ; Brain Concussion - epidemiology ; Brain Concussion - prevention & control ; Case studies ; Citation indexes ; Concussion ; Female ; Females ; Football - injuries ; Grey literature ; Humanities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injuries ; Male ; Males ; Medicine ; Medicine & Public Health ; Meta-analysis ; Prevention ; Quality control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Reviews ; Risk Factors ; Rugby ; Science ; Social sciences ; Software ; Sports Medicine ; Systematic Review</subject><ispartof>Sports medicine (Auckland), 2023-07, Vol.53 (7), p.1375-1393</ispartof><rights>The Author(s) 2023</rights><rights>2023. The Author(s).</rights><rights>Copyright Springer Nature B.V. Jul 2023</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c475t-1112bc03f6f7fd0eb84df015b56cdf3536b236e18b126b11c5dd29d7964678653</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c475t-1112bc03f6f7fd0eb84df015b56cdf3536b236e18b126b11c5dd29d7964678653</cites><orcidid>0000-0003-0175-2354 ; 0000-0001-5668-9706 ; 0000-0001-5800-7000 ; 0000-0002-0057-1327 ; 0000-0002-9499-6691</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktopdf>$$Uhttps://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z$$EPDF$$P50$$Gspringer$$Hfree_for_read</linktopdf><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z$$EHTML$$P50$$Gspringer$$Hfree_for_read</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>230,314,776,780,881,27901,27902,41464,42533,51294</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37191819$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>West, Stephen W.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Shill, Isla J.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bailey, Stuart</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Syrydiuk, Reid A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hayden, K. Alix</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Palmer, Debbie</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Black, Amanda M.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hagel, Brent E.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Stokes, Keith A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Emery, Carolyn A.</creatorcontrib><title>Injury Rates, Mechanisms, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Youth Rugby Union: What’s All the Ruck-Us About? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis</title><title>Sports medicine (Auckland)</title><addtitle>Sports Med</addtitle><addtitle>Sports Med</addtitle><description>Background
Rugby Union is a collision team sport played globally. Despite this, significant concerns have been raised regarding the sport’s safety, particularly in youth players. Given this, a review of injury rates, risk factors and prevention strategies is required across different youth age groups as well as in males and females.
Objective
The objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis was to investigate injury and concussion rates, risk factors and primary prevention strategies in youth rugby.
Methods
To be included, studies were required to report either rates, risk factors or prevention strategies in youth rugby and to have a randomised controlled trial, quasi-experimental, cohort, case control, or ecological study design. Exclusion criteria included non-peer-reviewed grey literature, conference abstracts, case studies, previous systematic reviews and studies not written in English. Nine databases were searched. The full search strategy and list of sources are available and pre-registered on PROSPERO (Ref: CRD42020208343). Each study was assessed for risk of bias using the Downs and Black quality assessment tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using a DerSimonian Laird random effect model for each age group and sex.
Results
Sixty-nine studies were included in this SR. The match injury rates (using a 24-h time-loss definition) were 40.2/1000 match hours (95% CI 13.9–66.5) in males and 69.0/1000 match hours (95% CI 46.8–91.2) in females. Concussion rates were 6.2/1000 player-hours (95% CI 5.0–7.4) for males and 33.9/1000 player-hours (95% CI: 24.1–43.7) for females. The most common injury site was lower extremity (males) and the head/neck (females). The most common injury type was ligament sprain (males) and concussion (females). The tackle was the most common event associated with injury in matches (55% male, 71% females). Median time loss was 21 days for males and 17 days for females. Twenty-three risk factors were reported. The risk factors with the strongest evidence were higher levels of play and increasing age. Primary injury prevention strategies were the focus of only eight studies and included law changes (
n
= 2), equipment (
n
= 4), education (
n
= 1) and training (
n
= 1). The prevention strategy with the most promising evidence was neuromuscular training. The primary limitations included a broad range of injury definitions (
n
= 9) and rate denominators (
n
= 11) used, as well as a limited number of studies which could be included in the meta-analysis for females (
n
= 2).
Conclusion
A focus on high-quality risk factor and primary prevention evaluation should be considered in future studies. Targeting primary prevention and stakeholder education remain key strategies in the prevention, recognition and management of injuries and concussions in youth rugby.</description><subject>Adolescent</subject><subject>Age</subject><subject>Age groups</subject><subject>Athletic Injuries - epidemiology</subject><subject>Athletic Injuries - etiology</subject><subject>Athletic Injuries - prevention & control</subject><subject>Brain Concussion - complications</subject><subject>Brain Concussion - epidemiology</subject><subject>Brain Concussion - prevention & control</subject><subject>Case studies</subject><subject>Citation indexes</subject><subject>Concussion</subject><subject>Female</subject><subject>Females</subject><subject>Football - injuries</subject><subject>Grey literature</subject><subject>Humanities</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Incidence</subject><subject>Injuries</subject><subject>Male</subject><subject>Males</subject><subject>Medicine</subject><subject>Medicine & Public Health</subject><subject>Meta-analysis</subject><subject>Prevention</subject><subject>Quality control</subject><subject>Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic</subject><subject>Reviews</subject><subject>Risk Factors</subject><subject>Rugby</subject><subject>Science</subject><subject>Social sciences</subject><subject>Software</subject><subject>Sports Medicine</subject><subject>Systematic Review</subject><issn>0112-1642</issn><issn>1179-2035</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2023</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>C6C</sourceid><sourceid>EIF</sourceid><sourceid>BENPR</sourceid><recordid>eNp9kctu1DAYhS0EokPhBVggS2xYEGo78SVsqlFFoVIr0JQRYmU5jjPxNHGK7QxKV7wGEk_Hk9TTKeWyYOXL-f5jHx0AnmL0CiPED0KBCC8zRPIMYUFYdnUPzDBOVwTl9D6YIYxJhllB9sCjENYIISoK8hDs5RyXWOByBn6cuPXoJ7hQ0YSX8MzoVjkb-rRf2HABj5WOgw9QuRp-8GZjXLSDg-fRp4GVNQFaBz8PY2zhYlxVE1y6pL-Gn1oVf377HuC862BsTVL1RbZM5yrBh3AOz6cQTa-i1XBhNtZ8vXnjzESVKae6KdjwGDxoVBfMk9t1HyyP33w8epedvn97cjQ_zXTBacxwillplDes4U2NTCWKukGYVpTpuslpziqSM4NFhQmrMNa0rklZ85IVjAtG831wuPO9HKve1DqF9KqTl972yk9yUFb-rTjbytWwkRiREiEiksOLWwc_fBlNiLK3QZuuU84MY5BE4IISLhBP6PN_0PUw-pR4S5FScEH51pDsKO2HELxp7n6Dkdy2L3fty9S-vGlfXqWhZ3_muBv5VXcC8h0QkuRWxv9--z-216xFvWE</recordid><startdate>20230701</startdate><enddate>20230701</enddate><creator>West, Stephen W.</creator><creator>Shill, Isla J.</creator><creator>Bailey, Stuart</creator><creator>Syrydiuk, Reid A.</creator><creator>Hayden, K. Alix</creator><creator>Palmer, Debbie</creator><creator>Black, Amanda M.</creator><creator>Hagel, Brent E.</creator><creator>Stokes, Keith A.</creator><creator>Emery, Carolyn A.</creator><general>Springer International Publishing</general><general>Springer Nature B.V</general><scope>C6C</scope><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>3V.</scope><scope>4T-</scope><scope>7QP</scope><scope>7RV</scope><scope>7TS</scope><scope>7U9</scope><scope>7X7</scope><scope>7XB</scope><scope>88E</scope><scope>8FI</scope><scope>8FJ</scope><scope>8FK</scope><scope>ABUWG</scope><scope>AFKRA</scope><scope>BENPR</scope><scope>CCPQU</scope><scope>FYUFA</scope><scope>GHDGH</scope><scope>H94</scope><scope>K9.</scope><scope>KB0</scope><scope>M0S</scope><scope>M1P</scope><scope>M7N</scope><scope>NAPCQ</scope><scope>PQEST</scope><scope>PQQKQ</scope><scope>PQUKI</scope><scope>7X8</scope><scope>5PM</scope><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0175-2354</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5668-9706</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5800-7000</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0057-1327</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9499-6691</orcidid></search><sort><creationdate>20230701</creationdate><title>Injury Rates, Mechanisms, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Youth Rugby Union: What’s All the Ruck-Us About? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis</title><author>West, Stephen W. ; Shill, Isla J. ; Bailey, Stuart ; Syrydiuk, Reid A. ; Hayden, K. Alix ; Palmer, Debbie ; Black, Amanda M. ; Hagel, Brent E. ; Stokes, Keith A. ; Emery, Carolyn A.</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c475t-1112bc03f6f7fd0eb84df015b56cdf3536b236e18b126b11c5dd29d7964678653</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2023</creationdate><topic>Adolescent</topic><topic>Age</topic><topic>Age groups</topic><topic>Athletic Injuries - epidemiology</topic><topic>Athletic Injuries - etiology</topic><topic>Athletic Injuries - prevention & control</topic><topic>Brain Concussion - complications</topic><topic>Brain Concussion - epidemiology</topic><topic>Brain Concussion - prevention & control</topic><topic>Case studies</topic><topic>Citation indexes</topic><topic>Concussion</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Females</topic><topic>Football - injuries</topic><topic>Grey literature</topic><topic>Humanities</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Incidence</topic><topic>Injuries</topic><topic>Male</topic><topic>Males</topic><topic>Medicine</topic><topic>Medicine & Public Health</topic><topic>Meta-analysis</topic><topic>Prevention</topic><topic>Quality control</topic><topic>Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic</topic><topic>Reviews</topic><topic>Risk Factors</topic><topic>Rugby</topic><topic>Science</topic><topic>Social sciences</topic><topic>Software</topic><topic>Sports Medicine</topic><topic>Systematic Review</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>West, Stephen W.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Shill, Isla J.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bailey, Stuart</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Syrydiuk, Reid A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hayden, K. Alix</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Palmer, Debbie</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Black, Amanda M.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hagel, Brent E.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Stokes, Keith A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Emery, Carolyn A.</creatorcontrib><collection>Springer Nature OA Free Journals</collection><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Corporate)</collection><collection>Docstoc</collection><collection>Calcium & Calcified Tissue Abstracts</collection><collection>Nursing & Allied Health Database</collection><collection>Physical Education Index</collection><collection>Virology and AIDS Abstracts</collection><collection>Health & Medical Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (purchase pre-March 2016)</collection><collection>Medical Database (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>Hospital Premium Collection</collection><collection>Hospital Premium Collection (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Alumni) (purchase pre-March 2016)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central UK/Ireland</collection><collection>ProQuest Central</collection><collection>ProQuest One Community College</collection><collection>Health Research Premium Collection</collection><collection>Health Research Premium Collection (Alumni)</collection><collection>AIDS and Cancer Research Abstracts</collection><collection>ProQuest Health & Medical Complete (Alumni)</collection><collection>Nursing & Allied Health Database (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>Health & Medical Collection (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>Medical Database</collection><collection>Algology Mycology and Protozoology Abstracts (Microbiology C)</collection><collection>Nursing & Allied Health Premium</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic Eastern Edition (DO NOT USE)</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic UKI Edition</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><collection>PubMed Central (Full Participant titles)</collection><jtitle>Sports medicine (Auckland)</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>West, Stephen W.</au><au>Shill, Isla J.</au><au>Bailey, Stuart</au><au>Syrydiuk, Reid A.</au><au>Hayden, K. Alix</au><au>Palmer, Debbie</au><au>Black, Amanda M.</au><au>Hagel, Brent E.</au><au>Stokes, Keith A.</au><au>Emery, Carolyn A.</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Injury Rates, Mechanisms, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Youth Rugby Union: What’s All the Ruck-Us About? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis</atitle><jtitle>Sports medicine (Auckland)</jtitle><stitle>Sports Med</stitle><addtitle>Sports Med</addtitle><date>2023-07-01</date><risdate>2023</risdate><volume>53</volume><issue>7</issue><spage>1375</spage><epage>1393</epage><pages>1375-1393</pages><issn>0112-1642</issn><eissn>1179-2035</eissn><abstract>Background
Rugby Union is a collision team sport played globally. Despite this, significant concerns have been raised regarding the sport’s safety, particularly in youth players. Given this, a review of injury rates, risk factors and prevention strategies is required across different youth age groups as well as in males and females.
Objective
The objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis was to investigate injury and concussion rates, risk factors and primary prevention strategies in youth rugby.
Methods
To be included, studies were required to report either rates, risk factors or prevention strategies in youth rugby and to have a randomised controlled trial, quasi-experimental, cohort, case control, or ecological study design. Exclusion criteria included non-peer-reviewed grey literature, conference abstracts, case studies, previous systematic reviews and studies not written in English. Nine databases were searched. The full search strategy and list of sources are available and pre-registered on PROSPERO (Ref: CRD42020208343). Each study was assessed for risk of bias using the Downs and Black quality assessment tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using a DerSimonian Laird random effect model for each age group and sex.
Results
Sixty-nine studies were included in this SR. The match injury rates (using a 24-h time-loss definition) were 40.2/1000 match hours (95% CI 13.9–66.5) in males and 69.0/1000 match hours (95% CI 46.8–91.2) in females. Concussion rates were 6.2/1000 player-hours (95% CI 5.0–7.4) for males and 33.9/1000 player-hours (95% CI: 24.1–43.7) for females. The most common injury site was lower extremity (males) and the head/neck (females). The most common injury type was ligament sprain (males) and concussion (females). The tackle was the most common event associated with injury in matches (55% male, 71% females). Median time loss was 21 days for males and 17 days for females. Twenty-three risk factors were reported. The risk factors with the strongest evidence were higher levels of play and increasing age. Primary injury prevention strategies were the focus of only eight studies and included law changes (
n
= 2), equipment (
n
= 4), education (
n
= 1) and training (
n
= 1). The prevention strategy with the most promising evidence was neuromuscular training. The primary limitations included a broad range of injury definitions (
n
= 9) and rate denominators (
n
= 11) used, as well as a limited number of studies which could be included in the meta-analysis for females (
n
= 2).
Conclusion
A focus on high-quality risk factor and primary prevention evaluation should be considered in future studies. Targeting primary prevention and stakeholder education remain key strategies in the prevention, recognition and management of injuries and concussions in youth rugby.</abstract><cop>Cham</cop><pub>Springer International Publishing</pub><pmid>37191819</pmid><doi>10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z</doi><tpages>19</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0175-2354</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5668-9706</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5800-7000</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0057-1327</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9499-6691</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record> |
| fulltext | fulltext |
| identifier | ISSN: 0112-1642 |
| ispartof | Sports medicine (Auckland), 2023-07, Vol.53 (7), p.1375-1393 |
| issn | 0112-1642 1179-2035 |
| language | eng |
| recordid | cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_10290028 |
| source | MEDLINE; Springer Nature - Complete Springer Journals |
| subjects | Adolescent Age Age groups Athletic Injuries - epidemiology Athletic Injuries - etiology Athletic Injuries - prevention & control Brain Concussion - complications Brain Concussion - epidemiology Brain Concussion - prevention & control Case studies Citation indexes Concussion Female Females Football - injuries Grey literature Humanities Humans Incidence Injuries Male Males Medicine Medicine & Public Health Meta-analysis Prevention Quality control Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Reviews Risk Factors Rugby Science Social sciences Software Sports Medicine Systematic Review |
| title | Injury Rates, Mechanisms, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Youth Rugby Union: What’s All the Ruck-Us About? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| url | https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-02-09T21%3A02%3A15IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_pubme&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Injury%20Rates,%20Mechanisms,%20Risk%20Factors%20and%20Prevention%20Strategies%20in%20Youth%20Rugby%20Union:%20What%E2%80%99s%20All%20the%20Ruck-Us%20About?%20A%20Systematic%20Review%20and%20Meta-analysis&rft.jtitle=Sports%20medicine%20(Auckland)&rft.au=West,%20Stephen%20W.&rft.date=2023-07-01&rft.volume=53&rft.issue=7&rft.spage=1375&rft.epage=1393&rft.pages=1375-1393&rft.issn=0112-1642&rft.eissn=1179-2035&rft_id=info:doi/10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_pubme%3E2814527807%3C/proquest_pubme%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=2829878578&rft_id=info:pmid/37191819&rfr_iscdi=true |