Key result
Indigenous Australian football players had a higher risk of hamstring injuries (RR 1.52; 95% CI 1.32-1.73) than non-indigenous players, despite having a similar overall risk of injury.
Why the study?
Does indigenous descent alter the risk profile of specific injuries in Australian Football League players compared to non-indigenous players?
Cohort (n=4,492)
Does indigenous descent alter the risk profile of specific injuries in Australian Football League players compared to non-indigenous players?
Relative Risk: 1.52 (95% CI 1.32–1.73)
Indigenous AFL players have a different injury profile compared to non-indigenous players, with higher risk of hamstring and calf injuries but lower risk of spine, groin, and Achilles injuries, despite similar overall injury rates.
May support tailored hamstring prevention in Indigenous AFL players; leaves open causal factors and needs prospective confirmation.
It has previously been shown that being of aboriginal descent is a risk factor for hamstring injuries in Australian football. The aim of this study was to review the Australian Football League (AFL) injury database to determine whether there were any injuries where indigenous players had different relative risks to non-indigenous players. Analysis was conducted using data from the AFL injury database, which included data from 4,492 players over 21 years (1992–2012), covering 162,683 player-matches at AFL level, 91,098 matches at lower levels and 328,181 weeks (possible matches) of exposure. Compared to non-indigenous players, indigenous players had a significantly higher risk of hamstring injuries (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.32–1.73) and calf strains (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.00–1.69). Conversely, indigenous players had a significantly lower risk of lumbar/thoracic spine injuries (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41–0.91), groin strains/osteitis pubis (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58–0.96) and Achilles tendon injuries (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12–0.86). The results for the above injuries were also significant in terms of games missed. There was no difference between overall risk of injury (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.96–1.10) or missed games (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97–1.04). This suggests that indigenous AFL players have the same overall number of injuries and missed games, but a slightly different injury profile.
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Orchard et al. (2013) conducted a cohort in Australian football injuries (n=4,492). Indigenous descent vs. Non-indigenous descent was evaluated on hamstring injuries (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.32-1.73). Indigenous Australian football players had a higher risk of hamstring injuries (RR 1.52; 95% CI 1.32-1.73) than non-indigenous players, despite having a similar overall risk of injury.
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