Clarifying the structure of repeated serious injuries on female rugby players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to grasp the injury situation of Japanese female rugby players in 2020-2021 by network analysis with psychological condition under COVID19 (June 1-30, 2021). The number of respondents was 302. 60% reported serious injuries. The parts were ankle, knee, shoulder, head, etc. Symptoms are ligament / bone / muscle damage or concussion. The caused plays were tackle/tackled, running with no physical contact, etc. There were 39 head injuries. Some ones played while continuing long-term treatment such as knees and ankles. Approximate 40 % of players injured once were injured twice again, and approximate 40% of players injured twice were injured a third time. 30% of all respondents had some chronic symptoms. Network analysis revealed a structure with multiple chronic symptoms (head, shoulders, knees, ankles), a structure of multiple parts of injuries in a single play, and a structure in which the same parts were repeatedly injured in a year. Some players suffered concussions after knee injuries. It suggested the possibility that the physical safety management skills to protect the head might be inferior due to insufficient recovery of knee function as a negative injury chain structure.