Rugby is, without a doubt, one of the most popular sports in the world. To be more precise, it ranks ninth on the popularity scale, according to statistics, right after baseball, having an estimated following of 475 million fans around the globe. Rugby originated in England and is a fast-paced and extremely exciting sport that involves a lot of tackling and physical contact, similar to American football.
But while in American football players wear elaborate body and head protective equipment such as hard helmets, gloves, shoulder pads, hip pads, and knee pads to minimise the risk of injuries and keep everyone safe, rugby comes without all this paraphernalia. You don’t have to be a rugby connoisseur to realize that the lack of protective gear in such an intense and hard-hitting sport gives way to plenty of accidents and injuries. It’s obvious from the very first minute of watching a rugby match that the frequent collisions happening during the game can easily lead to a wide range of injuries.
Professional and amateur players alike are exposed to these risks and unfortunately, many people don’t realize just how serious things can get on the field, so they don’t take any precautionary measures. Also, getting injured while playing rugby is not one of those situations where you can make a claim on a no win no fee basis and receive compensation for the damages, since these types of incidents don’t unusually fall in the personal injury category.
The only way to keep yourself out of harm’s way while playing rugby, apart from making sure you’re fit for the game, is to learn about the most common types of rugby injuries. Knowledge is power, so knowing what you’re up against when you step on the playing field will definitely make it easier for you to avoid unpleasant events.
Head injuries
Rugy is a sport where players dive in head first, sometimes quite literally. As you may assume, that can result in head injuries, ranging from minor bumps and scratches to lacerations and severe concussions. Head injuries are among the most common issues that players suffer on the field, accounting for almost 20% of all rugby union injuries. Symptoms can include headaches, concentration problems, memory loss, balance issues or dizziness, blurry vision, nausea, or vomiting.
Given the prevalence of head injuries in rugby, players are recommended to wear headgear, also known as a scrum cap, during matches. This is a piece of protective equipment that is used to cover the ears, forehead, and skull, and thus reduce the likelihood of head injuries. Japan has made the use of scrum caps mandatory, and some Candain teams are also required to wear them, but in most countries, they remain optional. Rugby headgears don’t guarantee you’ll walk out of the field unharmed, but they have proven their efficacy in reducing the risk of superficial head injuries. Thus, while they may be of help, caution is still paramount in staying safe.
Sprains and strains
Sprains happen when the tissue that connects two bones together gets overstretched due to falling, twisting, a sudden change of direction, or moving in an unnatural position. Strains happen when the same thing occurs to a muscle or to the tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone. Given the current rugby training that requires players to be faster and stronger, sprains and strains have become a common sight, both during matches and in practice sessions.
The best way to keep these types of injuries at bay is to do a good dynamic warmup before entering the field. Warmups are extremely important because they help raise your body temperature and thus activate your muscles and increase flexibility. It’s just as important to take the right approach to warm up by starting slow and gradually increasing intensity.
Shoulder dislocations
Shoulder dislocations are a common complaint for many rugby payers. Being a full-contact sport, players often collide, outstretching their arms to try to fight the opponent or falling on the shoulder during the tackle, and that leads to dislocated shoulders.
This is not the type of injury that will heal on its own. You’ll require immediate medical attention and have your shoulder put back by a doctor. Apart from adequate rest, you might also have to undergo physiotherapy to regain strength in your shoulder and prevent further issues. Using a shoulder support can reduce the likelihood of these injuries to some extent, but complete prevention is not possible so, as stated previously, caution is the best policy.
Dislocation of the thumb
Compared to shoulder dislocations, thumb dislocations don’t seem like such a big deal, given they involve a much smaller part of the body and the nature of these injuries is not life-threatening. However, one should not ignore them or minimise their severity, as they are painful and can affect your quality of life.
There’s not much one can do to prevent a fracture-dislocation of the thumb, apart from maybe asking your physiotherapist to tape your thumb. That might help in some situations, but it’s far from being a fool-proof technique, which is why you have to stay vigilant during the game to keep your thumbs safe.
Overuse injuries
As the name suggests, these types of injuries occur when muscle, bones, ligaments, or joints get damaged because of a repetitive action. Overuse injuries often happen when players push themselves too hard during training sessions, but they can also appear in time, due to intense activity on the field. They are less noticeable than other rugby injuries, as they tend to sneak up on you unknowingly, but they can lead to serious issues. So, making sure you don’t go overboard with your rugby training and getting timely treatment is crucial for managing overuse injuries.
As with all other health issues, prevention is better than cure when it comes to rugby injuries. You have to be aware of the level of risk involved and take the necessary measures to keep yourself and others safe before stepping on the playing field.
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