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West SW, Shill IJ, Bailey S, Syrydiuk RA, Hayden KA, Palmer D, Black AM, Hagel BE, Stokes KA, Emery CA. 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. Sports Med 2023; 53:1375-1393. [PMID: 37191819 PMCID: PMC10290028 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01826-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W West
- Centre for Health, and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
- UK Collaborating Centre on Injury & Illness Prevention in Sport (UKCCIIS), Edinburgh & Bath, UK.
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
| | - Isla J Shill
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Stuart Bailey
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Reid A Syrydiuk
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Michigan Concussion Center, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - K Alix Hayden
- Libraries and Cultural Resources, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Debbie Palmer
- UK Collaborating Centre on Injury & Illness Prevention in Sport (UKCCIIS), Edinburgh & Bath, UK
- Edinburgh Sports Medicine Research Network, Institute for Sport, PE and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Division of Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amanda M Black
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Brent E Hagel
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Keith A Stokes
- Centre for Health, and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- UK Collaborating Centre on Injury & Illness Prevention in Sport (UKCCIIS), Edinburgh & Bath, UK
- Rugby Football Union, Twickenham, London, UK
| | - Carolyn A Emery
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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