Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the existence of a relationship between training load and injury continues to be well supported in the literature and is strongest for subjective internal training load .
The directionality of this relationship appears to depend on the type and timeframe of load measured
Background The relationship between training load and musculoskeletal injury is a rapidly advancing area of research in need of an up date d systematic review .
Injury Patterns, Physiological Profile, and Performance in University Rugby Union.
CONTEXT Rugby union is a physically dem and ing collision sport with high injury rates . There is a common perception that higher training loads result in greater injury risk in field-based sports . OBJECTIVES To determine injury , anthropometric , and physical-performance characteristics in junior rugby union players and investigate the interaction between training load and injury across a competitive season . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . METHODS Fifty-one players ( age 19.2 ± 0.7 y ) from an under-20 university rugby union team ( forwards , n = 27 ; backs , n = 24 ) participated in a study conducted over a competition season . Training load , injury characteristics , anthropometry , physiological performance , and match time-loss injury incidence were observed . RESULTS Backs had significantly lower body mass ( ES [ 95 % CI ] = 1.6 [ 0.9 , 2.2 ] ) , skinfold thickness ( ES = 1.1 [ 0.5 , 1.7 ] ) , strength ( squat ES = 0.6 [ 0.0 , 1.2 ] , deadlift ES = 0.6 [ 0.0 , 1.1 ] , bench press ES = 0.9 [ 0.4 , 1.5 ] ) , lower-body power ( ES = 0.4 [ -0.2 , 1.0 ] ) , and higher maximal aerobic capacity ( ES = -0.3 [ -0.8 , 0.3 ] ) than forwards . Match injury incidence was 107.3 injuries/1000 player hours ( forwards 91.4/1000 , backs 125.5/1000 ) during preseason and 110.7 injuries/1000 player hours ( forwards 124.1/1000 , backs 95.2/1000 ) during in-season . Forwards showed higher incidence of joint and ligament ( P = .049 ) and upper-limb ( P = .011 ) injuries than backs . No significant relationship between overall training load and match injury incidence was found . However , lower match injury incidence was associated with higher weekly training volume in backs ( P = .007 ) . CONCLUSIONS Positional differences in body composition , performance , injury characteristics , and match injury patterns were identified in junior university rugby union players , indicating the need for position-specific training programs to reduce risk of injury
Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the existence of a relationship between training load and injury continues to be well supported in the literature and is strongest for subjective internal training load .
The directionality of this relationship appears to depend on the type and timeframe of load measured
Background The relationship between training load and musculoskeletal injury is a rapidly advancing area of research in need of an up date d systematic review .