853 MEP076 – Is shoulder injuries relevant in professional South African rugby players: focus on real-time collision data during a tackle?

AbstractBackground In rugby, the shoulder contributes in attack/defence during collisions, tackling, falling, scrummaging and mauling.Objectives Investigating the frequency, tissue and pathology type of shoulder injuries per player position among professional South African rugby players and injury severity in the context of momentum, intensity, and collision variables.Design Prospective study.Setting Professional rugby tournaments over four seasons (2018–2021).Participants Professional male rugby union players (n=80) older than 18 from a South African rugby franchise.Assessment A Catapult Evo GPS unit worn during training and match-play recorded performance variables and collision forces during a shoulder injury. Tissue and pathology types of shoulder injury were collected from players' medical files, clinical examinations and special investigations.Main Outcome Measurements Frequency, clinical characteristics, GPS collision data and severity (% time-loss ≥1 day) of shoulder injuries overall and in forwards vs. backs.Results Shoulder injuries contributed to 17% of all injuries, ranging from 2–34% per year. Forwards (63%) sustained most shoulder injuries, specifically locks (30%). Acromioclavicular (AC) joint (47%) was mainly involved, and ligament/joint capsule (65%) was the most common tissue type injured. Injuries with the highest average momentum resulted in players suffering minimal to mild severity injuries (1–7 days time-loss). Backs (631.15 kg.m/s) required less momentum than forwards (816.00 kg.m/s) to suffer injuries resulting in >28 days time-loss (p=0.008). Backs encountered higher match intensity (67.76 m/min, p=0.031) and highest average collisions (0.28/min) without more severe injuries. Match intensity of >60 m/min resulted in more than 55% of shoulder injuries. Conclusion One in six injuries was shoulder-related. Backline players were involved in higher velocity contact, game intensity, and collision frequency, but forwards sustained more shoulder injuries. However, backline players required less momentum to sustain more severe injuries. Prevention strategies must include shoulder protection during tackling.