The incidence and burden of injury in male adolescent community rugby union in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence, location, mechanism and burden of injury in community male adolescent rugby. METHODS: A prospective cohort injury surveillance study using sports trainers to record 'any physical complaint' over three seasons (2018/2019/2021) in 979 U13-U17 community male rugby union players. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two time-loss injuries (27.6/1000 hours) with an associated burden of 2313 days (419.7 days/1000 hours), 169 non-time loss medical attention (30.1/1000 hours) and 813 physical complaints (147.5/1000 hours) were recorded from 5511.7 exposure hours (matches 3932.5 hours, training 1579.2 hours). Time-loss injury incidence was highest in U16 (45/1000 hours) and lowest in U17 (16.6/1000 hours), with U17 significantly lower than U16 and U15 age-grades (p < 0.05). Injury burden was greatest in U13 (561.4 days/1000 hours), and significantly higher than U15 and U17 (p < 0.05). Collectively, injury incidence was greatest for the head/neck (11.8/1000 hours), bruise/contusions were most common (8.7/1000 hours) and concussion (4.5/1000 hours) accounted for the greatest injury burden (102 days/1000 hours). Being tackled was the most observed injury mechanism (10.0/1000 hours). Forwards had significantly higher incidence in mild injury (p < 0.01). The total burden (p < 0.001) associated with mild (p < 0.001) and moderate injuries (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in forwards, as was the burden of being tackled (p < 0.001), collisions (p < 0.001), trunk (p < 0.001) and lower limb (p < 0.01) injury locations. In contrast, ruck-related injury burden was greater in backs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed age-grade and positional differences in incidence and burden of injury in community adolescent rugby union. The rate of non-time loss relative to time-loss injury and muscle strain injury in U13-U14s suggests further research into injury risk and maturation in rugby is needed.

The COVID-19 lockdown in Australia: a case study of exercise programming in male academy football players to prepare for return to play.

PURPOSE: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced global lockdowns. Herein, we examine the effect of a lockdown exercise programme in a case-study of youth Australian A-league academy football players. METHODS: Fifty-five u13-u15 age-grade players were provided with a 110 minute exercise programme including technical, tactical, cardiovascular and muscle strengthening exercises to perform 4 per week at home during the 10-week COVID-19 lockdown. RESULTS: Pre/Post lockdown, maximum aerobic speed was determined via the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT). Exercise compliance was high (78.5% CI72.2-83.8) with an average of 3.15 sessions completed each week. All time-loss (TL) and medical attention (MA) injuries were recorded. Pre/Post lockdown, no difference in the mean incidence or burden of total time-loss (TL), match TL, training TL or medical attention (MA) injuries or injury rate ratio (1.21 CI:0.85-2.74) was observed. Similarly, no difference was observed in any injury incidence or burden data or the injury rate ratio (1.53 CI:0.85-2.74) when comparing the 9-week period prior to lockdown with the first 9 weeks post lockdown (9v9 only). A 9.6% (p = <0.01) increase was also observed in Pre/Post 30-15 IFT composite scores (18.7 CI: 18.3-19.1 to 20.5 CI:20-21). CONCLUSION: In this case study, compliance to the home-based exercise programme was high and no increase in injury was apparent. These findings must however be considered alongside the limitations associated within this case-study.

Scheduling of eccentric lower limb injury prevention exercises during the soccer micro-cycle: Which day of the week?

Scheduling eccentric-based injury prevention programs (IPP) during the common 6-day micro-cycle in soccer is challenged by recovery and tapering phases. This study profiled muscle damage, neuromuscular performance, and perceptual responses to a lower limb eccentric-based IPP administered 1 (MD+1) vs 3 days (MD+3) postmatch. A total of 18 semi-professional players were monitored daily during 3 in-season 6-day micro-cycles, including weekly competitive fixtures. Capillary creatine kinase concentration (CK), posterior lower limb isometric peak force (PF), counter-movement jump (CMJ) performance, and muscle soreness were assessed 24 hours prior to match-day (baseline), and every 24 hours up to 120 hours postmatch. The IPP consisted of lunges, single stiff leg dead-lifts, single leg-squats, and Nordic hamstring exercises. Performing the IPP on MD+1 attenuated the decline in CK normally observed following match play (CON: 142%; MD+3: 166%; small differences). When IPP was delivered on MD+3, CK was higher vs CON and MD+1 trials on both MD+4 (MD+3: 260%; CON: 146%; MD+1: 151%; moderate differences) and MD+5 (MD+3: 209%; CON: 125%; MD+1: 127%; small differences). Soreness ratings were not exacerbated when the IPP was delivered on MD+1, but when prescribed on MD+3, hamstring soreness ratings remained higher on MD+4 and MD+5 (small differences). No between-trial differences were observed for PF and CMJ. Administering the IPP in the middle of the micro-cycle (MD+3) increased measures of muscle damage and soreness, which remained elevated on the day prior to the next match (MD+5). Accordingly, IPP should be scheduled early in the micro-cycle, to avoid compromising preparation for the following match.