Nature and proportion of total injuries at the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club: a comparason of the years 1973 1975 with 2003 -2005

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare the nature and proportion of total injuries occurring at Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club in Stellenbosch, South Africa, between the years 1973 - 1975 and 2003 - 2005. Design. Retrospective, descriptive study. Main outcome measures. Injured rugby players from the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club from the different time periods were included in the study. Results from the 1973 - 1975 time period were obtained from two previously published articles (Roy, 1974; Van Heerden, 1976), while data from the 2003 - 2005 time period were available through the Stellenbosch University Rugby Injury Database. Results. An increase in the proportion of head and facial injuries from 1973 - 1975 (21%) to 2003 - 2005 (42%) was found as well as a doubling in the proportion of concussions between the two time periods (12% - 23%). There was an overall decrease in total injuries between the two time periods. Conclusion. The findings highlight the high and increased proportion of head and facial injuries in the game of rugby at the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club. This is a matter that should be further investigated.

South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 19 (5) 2007: pp. 125-128