Prevalence, Incidence and Risk Factors for Rugby Related Injuries: A Survey of the safari Sevens Tournament in Kenya

Abstract

Rugby-related injuries are a leading cause of drop-out from competitive sports, high insurance compensation, disability and socioeconomic marginalization worldwide. The debilitating effect of these injuries on players may deny them the benefits associated with rugby and can lead to premature termination of a rugby career. In Kenya rugby sevens has gradually grown to become a highly popular sport, which includes the Safari sevens tournament. However, the prevalence, incidence of rugby-related injuries and risk factors for rugby-related injuries in the Safari sevens rugby tournament has not been clearly determined despite the popularity and interest gained by rugby sevens sport in the country. The gap has specific implications including individual players inclusion in competitive sports and expected performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for rugby-related injuries among male Safari sevens rugby tournament players in Kenya. This study was carried out in October 2021 amongst all male players in the Safari sevens rugby tournament. The JKUAT ERC approved the study. Players (n=113) voluntarily completed Rugby International Consensus Group “injury report form”. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios were calculated and presented in summary tables. Results showed a point-prevalence of 47(41.6%) respondents at pre-tournament. The tournament recorded 117.6 player-match hours with an incidence of 33(29.2%) injuries occurring during competition. In contact phase of rugby match “being tackled” was associated with a higher number of injuries mostly in the lower limbs. Surface of the playing field was likely to expose a player to injury in pre-competition and during the tournament. Additionally, players who had recurrent previous injuries and oversize gear were more likely to be injured during the tournament. In conclusion, the study showed competition injury incidence similar to that reported in previous studies. Lower limbs injuries were most prevalent, especially the ankle attributable to “getting tackled” during matches, recurrence of injuries and the surface of playing field among other associated risk factors. These results have clinical implications for an algorithm for injury risk assessment, development of knee and ankle control training protocol and use of dynamic knee and ankle supports.