Rugby highest toll on sporting claims

By KATHERINE HOBY

Rugby is by far our most dangerous - and expensive - sport.

The latest statistics released by ACC show a quarter of new sport and recreation claims are for rugby-related injuries.

While it is true that rugby has the greatest number of participants (120,000 New Zealanders playing 15 games a year), the figure is alarming. A high spinal injury sustained by a 17-year-old will cost ACC between $6 million and $9 million over the life of the claim.

Soccer and netball are next on the list, but they account for just 7 per cent of new claims each.

Both ACC and the NZ Rugby Football Union have injury prevention plans in place to try to bring down injury numbers.

Rugby hit the headlines in June when Hawkes Bay winger Tino Amato died after a tackler thumped him across the sideline during a match. Rugby injuries are seldom this serious. But the cost of claims ($9 million last year; more than $10 million in ongoing claims) is three times that of other sports.

Rugby Union manager for research and injury prevention Ken Quarrie said that over the last Super 12 season there were 22,000 tackles, causing 40 players to need medical treatment. There were eight tackle injuries per 1000 tackles.

He said the union had a policy of compulsory safety courses for coaches and referees at all levels. Players are trained in safe ways to tackle, scrummage, ruck and maul.

Last year there was a training emphasis on physical conditioning and what a player should do when injured. This season it is on fair play and how to deal with concussion (players must take three weeks off and see a doctor).

Forewarned is forearmed, and many sporting codes, sports medicine practitioners and sportspeople arm themselves with knowledge before hitting the rugby field or the slopes.

The most common sports injuries are strains, sprains, and bruises.

The most common injury sites are:

Rugby: face, knee, shoulder, ankle.

Soccer: knee, face, ankle, lower leg.

Netball: ankle, knee, face, lower leg.

Swimming: face, shoulder, knee.

Snow: face, shoulder, knee, hip/upper leg.

Touch: face, knee, ankle, shoulder.

Most sports injuries are to the head, shoulders, hamstrings, knees, or ankles.

Concussion is the most common head injury in sport. It might take days or weeks to recover from a concussion. Until completely symptom-free, the athlete should not return to training or competition.

Shoulder injuries are very common in collision sports like rugby and in those where shoulders are used a lot, including swimming and gymnastics. The time needed for rehabilitation will depend on the injury and the individual.

Hamstring strains are often the result of inadequate warm-up, and can recur if rehabilitation is rushed. A health professional should always be consulted before returning to any sporting activity.

Knee sprains are particularly common in sports that involve tackling (rugby, for example) or twisting (netball). Again, inadequate recovery will increase the risk of re-injury.

Ankle injuries are the most common in all sports. Sprains are sometimes not taken seriously and if improperly treated can be troublesome.

Coaches and sports science experts suggest using commonsense before the beginning of any sports season.

Sports psychologist Jane Brown says New Zealanders usually try to do too much, too fast on the sports field.

"Those of us who are sporty are a nation of doers and we don't want to muck around. That's a crucial mistake sometimes," she says.

"What is seen as mucking around is really very important - such as pre-season training and warming up."

Ms Brown suggests:

* Begin training several weeks, or, if possible, months before game training and the season's start. Be realistic: you may not be as fit or in the same form as you were at 18.

* Warming up and cooling down are crucial. Taking your body from zero to hero and back again within the space of a couple of hours is not a good idea.

* Protective equipment is offered for a reason.

* Keep up fluid levels.

Information provided by: ACC, NZ Rugby Football Union.

Steps to pain-free participation in sport

The ACC's SportSmart plan is aimed at reducing sports injuries and the payouts for them.

The 10-point plan includes:

* Screening. It helps identify players at risk pre-season and aids in deciding when those injured can return to their chosen sport.

* Warming up and stretching. Warming up prepares the mind, heart, muscles, and joints. It improves performance, helps mental preparation, and is a great step toward preventing injury. Cooling down is equally important.

* Physical conditioning. Training starts before a sport begins.

* Technique. Poor technique over a prolonged period can cause persistent injuries such as tennis elbow, or lower back pain.

* Fair play. A healthy, competitive spirit and fair play contributes to a low injury rate.

* Protective equipment. Appropriate gear such as mouthguards, headgear, bracing and tape, padding and correct footwear should be used.

* Hydration and nutrition. Replacing fluids lost during sweating, and providing the body with a fuel supply through food is a crucial component for healthy living.

* Injury surveillance. Gathering information on injuries to establish how and why they happen, and how to prevent them, is vital.

* Environmental factors. Facilities, weather, surfaces, and equipment should be taken into account.

* Injury management. Management involves identifying injuries and treating them to ensure recovery is as swift and pain-free as possible.

nzherald.co.nz/health