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ABSTRACT: Rugby league is a popular participation sport, but there have been concerns raised regarding the possible high number of severe neck, back and spine injuries. Therefore an epidemiological overview of rugby league neck, back and spine injuries and associated costs of these injuries was undertaken in one country over nine years. The New Zealand national Accident Compensation Corporation data for moderate to serious injury entitlement claims (MSC) over nine years were analysed for the number, type and cost of neck, back and spine rugby league injuries resulting in medical treatment. There were 206 (3%) neck, back and spine MSC claims totalling NZD$1,585,927 (4%) of the total injury entitlement costs for rugby league over the nine-year period. The rate of MSC neck, back and spine rugby league injuries was 26 per 1000 total rugby league claims. Although the rate of neck, back and spine injuries varied over the nine years from 22 to 40 per 1000 injury claims, there was a significant increase over the duration of the study in the number of neck, back and spine MSC claims (χ2=849, df=8, p<0.001), and the cost per MSC injury claim (χ2=19,054, df=8, p<0.001). The frequency, severity and first 12 months cost of neck, back and spine injuries in rugby league is an issue that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately the ACC data base does not provide information on how or why the injuries occurred. A prospective injury epidemiology study needs to be conducted that will allow collection of information surrounding the mechanisms of injury and possible causative risk factors such as tackling technique. In the meantime it is suggested that coaches should ensure tackling technique is correctly taught to all rugby league players to reduce the risk of neck, back and spine injury. Team medical personnel should be trained in dealing with neck and spine injuries as well as head related injuries, and emergency procedures in dealing with players with a suspected neck or back injury should be practiced at clubs.
Journal of science and medicine in sport / Sports Medicine Australia. 11/2010; 14(2):126-9.
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ABSTRACT: There is scarce information on rugby league injuries in female players. This paper provides an overview of the epidemiology of women's rugby league injuries requiring medical treatment and associated costs in New Zealand.
New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation injury data for the period 1999-2007 were searched for rugby league injury cases occurring in females. Data were analysed by demographics, body region, nature/severity of injury, and medical procedure and costs.
There were 320 moderate to serious injury claims recorded for females participating in rugby league activities over the study period. There was a mean (SD) of 37.9 (9.5) injury claims per year. The mean cost per year for the study period was $196 514 ($99,133) (£76,066 (£38,374)) with half of the injury claims occurring in New Zealand Maori. Concussion/brain injuries accounted for 3.8% of total female moderate to serious injury claims but accounted for 5.4% of female injury costs ($84,399 (£32,688)) with the highest mean cost per claim ($7033 (£2724)). The lower limb accounted for 65% of the total female injury claims and 58.7% of total injury costs ($922,296 (£356,968)). The mean cost per claim was higher for the lower limb ($4434 (£1714)) than the upper ($3331 (£1288)) limb. Clerks recorded 16.3% of the total injury claims, 20.3% of total injury costs ($319,474 (£123,211)) and had the highest mean cost per claim ($6144 (£2370)). The 25-29 age group recorded 31.9% of injury claims and 33.8% of injury costs. The 35-39 age group recorded the highest mean cost per claim ($6200 (£2392)) but only 10.9% of total claims and 13.8% of total costs.
When compared with other studies in rugby league injuries, it appears that females incur substantially fewer injuries (5.7%) than males (94.3%). Although no participation data by sex are available, it is likely that participation percentages are reflected in the injury percentages. The high frequency (65%) and cost proportion (58.7%) for lower limb injuries was higher in females than in male rugby league players (previously reported as 42.4% of the injury claims and 31.5% of the total injury claim costs for the lower limb).
Injury prevention programmes for women's rugby league should focus on the 25-29 age group and address ways to prevent concussion and lower limb injuries.
British journal of sports medicine 10/2009; 44(14):1016-23. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This paper provides an overview of the epidemiology of rugby league injuries and associated costs in New Zealand requiring medical treatment.
New Zealand national Accident Compensation Corporation injury data for the period 1999 to 2007 were searched for rugby league injury cases. Data were analysed by demographics, body region, nature/severity of injury, and medical procedure and costs.
A total of 5941 injury entitlement claims were recorded over the study period with a significant decrease observed in the injury rate between the 1999-2000 and 2002-2003 reporting years. The total cost of the injuries for the study period was $42,822,048 (equivalent to pound15,916,072). The mean (SD) number of injury entitlement claims per year was 743 (271) and yearly cost was $5,352,760 (pound1,989,880) ($2,485,535 (pound923,994)). The knee was the most commonly reported injury site (225 per 1000 entitlement claims; $8,750,147 (pound3,252,020)) and soft tissue injuries were the most common injury types (474 per 1000 entitlement claims; $17,324,214 (pound6,438,599)). Accounting for only 1.8% of total injury entitlement claims, concussion/brain injuries accounted for 6.3% of injury entitlement costs and had the highest mean cost per claim ($25 347 (pound9420)). The upper and lower arm recorded the highest mean injury site claim cost of $43,096 (pound16,016) per claim. The 25-29 age group recorded 27.7% of total injury entitlement claims and 29.6% of total injury entitlement costs, which was slightly more than the 20-24 age group (27.3% claims; 24.7% costs). Nearly 15% of total moderate to serious injury entitlement claims and 20% of total costs were recorded from participants 35 years or older.
This study identified that the knee was the most common injury site and soft tissue injuries were the most common injury type requiring medical treatment, which is consistent with other international studies on rugby league epidemiology. This study also highlights that the rate of injury and the average age of injured rugby league players increased over time. The high cost of concussion/brain injuries is a cause for concern as it reflects the severity of the injuries.
Injury prevention programmes for rugby league should focus on reducing the risk of concussion/brain injury and knee and soft tissue injury, and should target participants in the 20-30 years old age range. More longitudinal epidemiological studies with specific details on injury mechanisms and participation data are warranted to further identify the injury circumstances surrounding participation in rugby league activities.
British journal of sports medicine 07/2009; 43(8):595-602. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In 2004, Netball New Zealand and New Zealand Football adapted a generic 10-point action plan for sports injury prevention, SportSmart, to create NetballSmart and SoccerSmart, as part of their coach education programmes. A small-size descriptive study was conducted in both sports, to assess the efficacy of integrating sports injury prevention into coach education. NetballSmart was evaluated at the end of 2005, via a telephone survey of 217 coaches (53% response rate) who had attended a NetballSmart course earlier in the year. SoccerSmart was evaluated at the start of 2007, via an Internet questionnaire completed by 71 coaches (20% response rate) who had attended a SoccerSmart course in 2006. The evaluations focused on the quality and use of the course resource material, as well as assessing the extent to which coaches had incorporated injury prevention behaviours into player practices. After attending a NetballSmart course, 89% of coaches changed the way they coached, with 95% reported using knowledge from the course and passing it on to players. Ninety-six percent of football/soccer coaches also changed the way they coached, with most change relating to warm-up/cool-down and stretch (65%), technique (63%), fitness (60%) and nutrition/hydration (58%) practices. Although this was a descriptive study in nature, with a small sample size, we conclude that integration of injury prevention content within coach education courses and resources may be a viable and effective strategy to help community coaches--and therefore community players--help reduce their risk of injury.
Journal of science and medicine in sport / Sports Medicine Australia. 01/2009; 13(1):32-5.
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ABSTRACT: To assess the absolute and relative risks of youth school-related travel using the New Zealand's no fault accident liability scheme and Census at School datasets.
Injury risk associated with traveling to and from school was assessed by combining census data from the Accident Compensation Commission database, New Zealand's no fault liability accident scheme database and the Census at School survey. Population injury and cost was assessed for incidents during a 2-year period (1 July 2003 to 30 June 2005) and during normal school travel hours (7.30 a.m.-9.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m.-4.30 p.m., weekdays) for youth 5-17 years of age.
Overall, 7573 cases were identified as being school travel-related, representing 1.6% of total, and 11.4% school travel period injuries. Walking (30.7%), cycling (30.3%), and motor vehicles (27.7%) provided the majority of injuries. Risk of injury per million trips was highest for cycling (46.1), walking (10.3), and motor vehicle travel (6.1).
These data provide the first comprehensive examination of absolute risk of travel to and from school and by transport mode, showing that school-related travel is a relatively safe activity contributing to a minority of all injuries sustained by youth.
Preventive Medicine 02/2008; 46(1):74-6. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In New Zealand (NZ), the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has developed a pre and post-implementation cost-outcome formulae for sport injury prevention to provide information regarding the success of a prevention programme. The ACC provides for the cost of all personal injuries in NZ and invests in prevention programmes to offset 1.6 million annual claims that cost $NZD 1.9 billion. The ACC invests in nine national community sport injury prevention programmes that represent 40% of sport claims and costs. Pre-implementation is used to determine the decision whether to invest in implementation and to determine the level of such investment for the injury prevention programme. Post-implementation is calculated two ways: unadjusted, assuming ceteris paribus; and adjusted assuming no prevention programme was in place. Post-implementation formulae provide a return on investment (ROI) for each dollar invested in the programme and cost-savings. The cost-outcome formulae approach allows ACC to manage expectations of the prevention programme as well as when it will provide a ROI, allowing it to take a long-term view for investment in sport injury prevention. Originally developed for its sport injury prevention programmes, the cost-outcome formulae have now been applied to the other prevention programmes ACC invests in such as home, road and workplace injury prevention.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 01/2008; 10(6):436-46. · 3.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of a concussion management education programme (CMEP) in rugby in reducing the number and cost of concussion/brain injury (CBI) moderate to serious claims (MSC) was assessed. A RugbySmart educational video and a sideline concussion check (SCC) tool comprised the CMEP. Over 30,000 SCC, providing information on management of suspected concussion among community level rugby players prior to seeking medical treatment, were distributed from July 2003 to June 2005. Each year approximately 10,000 coaches and 2,000 referees participated in RugbySmart. From 2003 to 2005 new rugby CBI MSC reduced by 10.7% (actual) and 58.2% (forecast). Rugby player numbers, new non-sport CBI MSC and new sport MSC all increased by 13.6%, 16.9% and 24.6% respectively in the same period. The median number of days between CBI injury and the player seeking medical treatment decreased from six days to four days. Cost savings after CMEP were 690 USD dollars, 690 (actual) to 3,354,780 USD dollars (forecast). The two-year cost of CMEP was 54,810 USD dollars returning 12.60 USD dollars (actual) and 61.21 USD dollars (forecast) for every 1 USD dollar invested (ROI). CMEP provided community coaches and managers with education on minimum best practice for managing suspected concussion, contributed towards ROI and savings for CBI MSC in rugby.
Neurorehabilitation 02/2007; 22(3):181-9. · 1.63 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This paper provides an overview of the epidemiology of New Zealand rugby league injuries requiring medical treatment and associated costs analysed by ethnic groups.Method: New Zealand national Accident Compensation Corporation injury data for the period 1999 to 2007 were searched for rugby league injury cases. Data were analysed by ethnic groups for demographics, body region, nature/severity of injury, and medical procedure and costs. Results: New Zealand Maori accounted for 39.8% of the number of total injury claims and 43.5% of the total injury entitlement costs but were recorded as only 13.2% of the total New Zealand population. Accounting for only 3.2% of the population distribution living in Auckland, New Zealand Maori recorded 11.7% of the total injury claims in the Auckland district. Soft tissue injuries accounted for 10.6% (±8.5%) of injury claims and 7.9% (±6.7%) of injury entitlement costs for all ethnic groups. New Zealand Maori recorded more injury claims for the knee than all other ethnic groups. Injury claims for New Zealand Europeans recorded more trade occupations, New Zealand Maori more plant and machinery occupations and Pacific peoples more elementary occupations. New Zealand Maori recorded significantly more injury claims for both males and females than all other ethnic groups over the study period. Conclusions: This study identified the number of injury claims, and associated costs of the injuries, by ethnic group that have occurred from participation in rugby league activities in New Zealand over an eight year period. NZ Maori are disproportionately participating in rugby league in NZ, but the proportions injured are consistent with reported proportions playing the game. Further research is warranted to fully explore the differences in injury rate between the ethnic groups and to what extent these differences in levels of participation in rugby league activities. Yes Yes
