Rugby Injuries

I started playing rugby at the age of 10 and have been passionate about the game ever since. I retired from the game at the age of 29 after a series of injuries that may have affected my ability to work as an osteopathic practitioner including a large Kiwi prop stamping on my wrist!

A serious cervical spine injury at the age of nineteen first caused me to seek out osteopathy after physio and more traditional treatment had failed to resolve my neck pain. As osteopathy helped to prolong my career I am eager to offer the same care to you to keep you putting on your boots for a bit longer. I still get a bit twitchy on a Saturday when I see a game as you’re retired for a long time although a couple of pints do tend to help a bit.

From the start of my rugby career I loved the fact that it was an all inclusive game finding a place for the short round kid (me), to the tall lanky one to the short whippet like small ones. Obviously it is a game that is very physical and a large number of injuries can be sustained during a playing career. Spending most of my time at the coal face hooking convinced me that it was probably the most injury prone position but recent research suggests that centres are the most injured ( not such girlie back pretty boys after all!) due to the high rate of tackling and speed of impact. Some of the injuries below are specific to different positions others affect us all.

Head Injuries

The most common form of head injuries are lacerations and cuts from clashes of heads or loose boots. Due to the impact of tackling concussions can be common and these need to be rested for usually 3 weeks. A large number of us will sustain fractured noses over the course of playing either from a flying fist or boot.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are commonly sustained in front row players due to the forces exerted from scrummaging when the scrum collapses. They can vary from slight neck ache or torticollis to the worst cervical fractures. Thankfully serious fractures that lead to paralysis are rare but are devastating for the unlucky few who sustain them. Compression fractures to the vertebral body will usually be treated with a collar for 6 – 8 weeks but more serious fractures may require surgical repair and prolonged support.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries are commonly sustained in rugby players either in a contact situation with another player or from falls onto the shoulder or onto an outstretched arm. The Acromio-clavicular joint where the collar bone attaches to the shoulder complex can be injured in the tackle or by impact with the ground and the ligaments that hold this joint together can be strained (grade 1) or completely ruptured (grade 3). The rotator cuff a group of 4 muscles that surround the shoulder and aid in raising the arm can be injured in a number of ways. Rotator cuff injuries can occur in training in the gym when too heavy weights are lifted and the muscle is either strained or torn. If the joint has been previously injured there can sometimes be instability in the joint and this can cause some impingement and irritation to the surrounding tissues, usually this is seen in hookers as it can be associated with throwing the ball in at the line out. In a heavy tackle or fall the shoulder joint can be subluxed or dislocated as the head of the humerus separates from the shoulder joint usually in an anterior direction. There will be immediate pain and discomfort and medical treatment should be sought immediately to relocate it. If this injury is repeated which it often is, a player can sometimes relocate the shoulder themselves due to ligamentous laxity.

Low Back Injuries

These are commonly sustained in the forwards whilst scrummaging. Attempts to raise the height of the scrum have helped to reduce this type of injury but overstrain and disc injuries such as prolapses still occur to the lumbar spine. Also individual joints can be damaged in heavy tackles or impacts as the facet joints between the vertebrae are forced together. Sometimes these injuries will not manifest themselves until many years later and a number of retired players will develop early arthritic change in the joints in their spines or degenerative disc disease.

Leg and ankle injuries

Hamstring and quadriceps muscles can be strained or torn when these muscles are overstretched and are usually felt as the player accelerates. Quadricep muscles can often be overstrained when kicking the ball.

Knees are commonly injured in tackles where the boot remains fixed in the ground and the upper body rotates on the fixed knee. Injuries to the internal supporting cruciate ligaments or external collateral ligaments can range from mild strains to complete ruptures.

Ankles are regularly strained and it is usually the lateral collateral ligaments that are injured when the ankle is twisted.

Osteopathy and Rugby Injuries

The above list is not extensive but is just intended to give a flavour of the types of injury that can be sustained. Now the good news, osteopathy can help you get over most of the above injuries and return to the game quicker. Osteopathy can also help you to reduce the risk of injury in the first place.

First and foremost training for the game is vital in the prevention of injuries. Improved technique will help to reduce the possibility of injuries and increased strength will help as we have more muscle bulk to protect ourselves and our joints. Pre-match stretching and warming up is very important to prevent muscle strains and sprains, starting gently and gradually increasing the intensity.

How though can a visit to an osteopathic practitioner reduce the risk of further injury? During a consultation an osteopathic practitioner will perform a full postural and musculoskeletal assessment to find areas of restriction in muscles, ligaments and joints. Using osteopathic techniques such as massage and manipulation the health and mobility of these tissues can be improved. Osteopathy can also benefit old injuries by improving the function of damaged tissues.

When an injury is sustained such as a fracture, dislocation or concussion immediate medical attention may be required. For the more mundane injuries though usually

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,

Icing,

Compression,

Elevation and

Rest

(NICER) will help in the first 48 hours. After sustaining an injury osteopathy can help restore the function of damaged tissues.

An osteopathic practitioner will also be able to give specific advice on exercises for rehabilitation of an injured tissue.

In conclusion as an ex player and osteopathic practitioner I will always work hard to get you back to the level of performance that you want so that you can continue to enjoy your sport.