Jordan J Stares1,2, Brian Dawson1,2, Peter Peeling2,3, Jarryd Heasman1, Brent Rogalski1, Jack Fahey-Gilmour1,2, Gregory Dupont2,4, Michael K Drew5,6,7, Marijke Welvaert5,7, Liam Toohey5,6,8. 1. West Coast Eagles Football Club, Perth, Australia. 2. School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 3. Western Australian Institute of Sport, Perth, Australia. 4. French Football Federation, Paris, France. 5. Athlete Availability Program, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia. 6. Australian Collaboration for Research Into Injury in Sport and Its Prevention, Perth, Australia. 7. University of Canberra Research Institute in Sport and Exercise, Bruce, Australia. 8. Sport and Exercise Medicine Department, School of Allied Health (Physiotherapy), La Trobe University, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The risk of sustaining a subsequent injury is elevated in the weeks after return to play (RTP) from an index injury. However, little is known about the magnitude, duration, and nature by which subsequent injury risk is increased. PURPOSE: To quantify and describe the risk of injury in a 12-week period after RTP from an index injury in Australian football players. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Injury data were collected from 79 players over 5 years at 1 Australian Football League club. Injuries were classified with the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System and by side of the body. Furthermore, injury severity was classified as time loss (resulting in ≥1 matches being missed) or non-time loss (no matches missed). Subsequent injury was categorized with the SIC-2.0 model and applied to the data set via an automated script. The probability of a time loss subsequent injury was calculated for in-season index injuries for each week of a 12-week period after RTP via a mixed effect logistic regression model. RESULTS: Subsequent injury risk was found to be highest in the week of RTP for both time loss injuries (9.4%) and non-time loss injuries (6.9%). Risk decreased with each week survived after RTP; however, it did not return to baseline risk of participation (3.6%). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that athletes returning to play are at an increased risk of injury for a number of weeks, thus indicating the requirement for tertiary prevention strategies to ensure that they survive this period.
BACKGROUND: The risk of sustaining a subsequent injury is elevated in the weeks after return to play (RTP) from an index injury. However, little is known about the magnitude, duration, and nature by which subsequent injury risk is increased. PURPOSE: To quantify and describe the risk of injury in a 12-week period after RTP from an index injury in Australian football players. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Injury data were collected from 79 players over 5 years at 1 Australian Football League club. Injuries were classified with the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System and by side of the body. Furthermore, injury severity was classified as time loss (resulting in ≥1 matches being missed) or non-time loss (no matches missed). Subsequent injury was categorized with the SIC-2.0 model and applied to the data set via an automated script. The probability of a time loss subsequent injury was calculated for in-season index injuries for each week of a 12-week period after RTP via a mixed effect logistic regression model. RESULTS: Subsequent injury risk was found to be highest in the week of RTP for both time loss injuries (9.4%) and non-time loss injuries (6.9%). Risk decreased with each week survived after RTP; however, it did not return to baseline risk of participation (3.6%). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that athletes returning to play are at an increased risk of injury for a number of weeks, thus indicating the requirement for tertiary prevention strategies to ensure that they survive this period.
Entities:
Keywords:
Australian football; injury risk; rehabilitation; subsequent injury
Authors: Gordon Dunlop; Clare L Ardern; Thor Einar Andersen; Colin Lewin; Gregory Dupont; Ben Ashworth; Gary O'Driscoll; Andrew Rolls; Susan Brown; Alan McCall Journal: Sports Med Date: 2020-04 Impact factor: 11.136