Influence of rugby injuries on players' subsequent health and lifestyle: beginning a long term follow up

Objectives-To describe the current rugby playing status of a cohort of 1169 men who had previously participated in an epidemiological survey of rugby injuries during the 1993-1994 season, and assess the consequences of rugby injuries sustained. Methods-In May 1998, 911 (78%) men completed a questionnaire reporting thei r current involvement in rugby and the influence that the 324 (71%) injurie s they had sustained four years earlier had since had on their health and w ellbeing. Results-The most common reasons given by the 390 (43%) ex-players for ceasi ng to play rugby were family (10%), employment (25%), and an injury sustain ed while playing rugby (26%), 80% of which were dislocations, strains, and sprains, mainly to the knee (35%), back (14%), and shoulder (9%). A signifi cantly (chi (2) test 21.7, df = 1, p<0.001) higher proportion of current pl ayers (90%) undertook (non-rugby) sporting activities compared with ex-play ers (78%). Few ex-players undertook coaching (12%) and refereeing (2%). Onl y 22 (9%) men reported significant negative effects to employment, family l ife, and health up to mid-1998 from injuries that occurred during the 1993- 1994 season, although the impact on their lifestyle had been substantial in some cases. Conclusions-With the recent increase in the incidence of dislocation, strai n, and sprain injuries in rugby football, the findings of this follow up co uld have a great impact on the game in the future. Although this survey has shown that, so far, only a small proportion of players suffer significant effects of rugby injuries, four years is not long enough to assess the long term effects. This cohort of rugby players need to be followed up for at l east a further 20 years to determine whether there is a higher incidence of subsequent degenerative joint disease or other long term sequelae to injur ies sustained while playing rugby.