Rugby and associated sports injuries

Abstract

Although also common in other contact sports, the likelihood of many injuries sustained in association with the popular sport of rugby may be accentuated by aggressive, or violent, play. An understanding of the incidence, causes, mechanisms, and severity of acute as well as overuse injuries associated with this sport is important in order to develop effective systems for injury prevention and treatment. Identifying certain health and physical conditions should assist in optimizing the fitness of players and in preventing injury. For some players, participation in the sport may even be contraindicated. This chapter will focus on the injuries and infections which may occur in rugby with an emphasis on prevention. Important changes to the laws of the sport that had an impact on the incidence of injury will be discussed. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012, 2015, All Rights Reserved.Export Date: 20 September 2017Correspondence Address: Dahabreh, Z.; Clinical Knee Fellow in Knee Surgery, Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute, Suite 13, Level 1, 445 Victoria Avenue, Australia; email: ziadsd@yahoo.com <br />