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Researchers at University of Tsukuba conducted a longitudinal injury surveillance study combined with video analysis of male university rugby players to investigate the incidence and mechanisms of knee injuries. The findings revealed an association between indirect contact from external forces not directly applied to the knee and the occurrence of injuries as well as the potential influence of movement direction during tackles on injury severity.

Tsukuba, Japan—Knee injuries in rugby players occur with high incidence and severity, posing a significant burden on athletes. Although many studies on rugby injuries have been published, few combine video analysis with epidemiological injury surveillance to further elucidate injury mechanisms.

This study involved 198 male university rugby players over six seasons, from 2017 to 2022. Injury surveillance data and video footage of matches were used to evaluate the incidence, severity, and burden of knee injuries, as well as their underlying mechanisms. Among the 81 knee injuries during the study period, 29 underwent video analysis. The results revealed that injuries caused by indirect contact—where external forces affected areas other than the knee—had a high incidence and burden, and that the direction of movement during tackles was associated with injury severity.

These findings suggest that physical contact such as tackling contributes to prolonged absence from competition, and that specific injury mechanisms can influence the severity of knee injuries. The insights gained from this study are expected to guide the development of targeted prevention programs for knee injuries in rugby.

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This work was supported by JST SPRING, Grant Number JPMJSP2124.

Original Paper

Title of original paper:

Mechanisms of Knee Injuries in Male University Rugby Union Players: A Systematic: Video Analysis and Injury Surveillance Study

Journal:

The Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine

Correspondence

Professor NAKATA Yoshio
Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba

OGURA Ayane
Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Degree Programs in Comprehensive Human Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Related Link

Institute of Health and Sport Sciences