ABSTRACT
The present study was performed to ascertain the annual changes in the number and nature of traumatic head injuries that occur in high-school rugby matches, and as an exploratory investigation of approaches to improve safety in the future. It was based on injury reports submitted at the time of injury to the Kansai Rugby Football Union between Apr. 2009 and Mar. 2016. The finding was that the mean number of reported cases of traumatic head injury per year during the three pre-amendment years from Apr. 2009 to Mar. 2011 was 18.0, whereas that during the five post-amendment years from Apr. 2012 to Mar. 2016 was 36.2. Of all the traumatic head injuries, those with the highest numbers and proportions of cases for each of the four factors were as follows: (i) occasion of injury: during a match, 115 (48.9%); (ii) condition of the pitch: grass, 105 (44.7%); (iii) school grade: 2, 104 (44.3%); and (iv) cause of injury: tackling, 115 (48.9%). In addition, the odds ratios (ORs) for brain concussion at post-amendment as compared with pre-amendment and for occurrence on grass as compared with on soil were significant 2.83. An exploratory investigation was conducted to clarify whether different factors are associated with the severity of pre- and post-amendment injuries, but no significant ORs were found. In conclusion, the establishment of guidelines related to brain concussion in 2012 increased the number of reports of injuries due to high-school rugby and had a definite effect on prompt treatment of brain concussions.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the injury patterns and risk factors of injuries among high school handball players in Japan. A total of 1299 (709 male and 590 female) subjects who played in the 2018 Japanese National High School Handball Championship participated in this study. The questionnaire on injury experience was distributed two weeks before the championship and was collected at the representation meeting the day before the championship. The main results were as follows: 1) The subjects (n=625, 48.1%) reported experiences of injuries in the previous year. Female had significantly more suffer injuries than male. 2) The main body parts of injuries were the ankle, knee, and finger in traumatic injuries and the lower leg, lumber spine/lower back, and knee in overuse injuries. The main types of injuries were sprain, ligamentous rupture, and fracture in traumatic injuries and stress fracture, other bone injuries, and lesion of meniscus or cartilage in overuse injuries. The main cause of injuries was “contact with another athlete”. 3) Age, female players, and back players were associated with increased the occurrences of injuries. Goalkeepers were associated with decreased the occurrences of injuries. These results indicated that a high prevalence of injuries in high school handball players, and it is important to take preventive measures based on age, gender, and player position.