injuryupdate
04-07-2004, 04:20 PM
Good article by Peter Larkins in the Herald-Sun about injuries in 2004 at the AFL level (mid-season break):
Injury-free run is best break
30 June 2004 Herald Sun
THERE is no doubt that the week off has allowed many players to recharge batteries and deal with the aches and niggles which always accumulate by mid-season.
Round 13 photos
Carey, Smart retire
'Inappropriate' undies?
Most teams will regain players from the injury list and be close to full strength for the first time in many weeks.
The results in the AFL's 2003 injury survey showed that the overall injury rate last year was the lowest in the 12 years since proper records were kept.
Hamstring injury returned as the No. 1 cause of missed games (replacing groin injury).
The recurrence rate was lower but time missed was a little longer, reflecting a more conservative approach by clubs to soft-tissue injury management.
Injuries to the shoulder region were up, but concussion, groin injury and corked thighs were down as causes of missed game time. There was the usual collection of knee ligament and cartilage problems as well as ankle, leg and arm injuries.
So how does the injury patterns of 2004 compare with 2003.
Based on my own records (official AFL data is not yet available) hamstrings will again dominate the 2004 survey.
In the 2004 pre-season there were more players missing with hamstring complaints than in any previous season.
This may reflect the amount of intense sprint training done by clubs during preparation. It also means those players are more likely to be re-injured during the season.
Already Essendon and Sydney have passed the entire season AFL average of six hammy injuries per club.
Some clubs are having a worse-than-usual run of injuries to mid-year.
Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Brisbane and Essendon have been near the top of the "injury ladder", no doubt affecting their season.
In particular, Brisbane had a number of top players below their best due to interrupted pre-seasons but some have begun to show their best form.
It has been a bonus for them to have Michael Voss get substantial game time despite his chronic knee problems.
Significant hammy problems have also affected Nathan Buckley and Anthony Koutoufides and although both have returned to play, they are still at risk.
James Hird continues to experience unusual injuries although his hyphema (blood in the eye) did not keep him out for as long as predicted.
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are well down this year -- there have been three knee reconstructions since Round 1 (nine at the same point in 2003).
Overall, serious knee injury rates are slightly down and there have been many less arthroscopes this year.
Shoulder injuries appear to be prevalent again with an increase in AC joint sprains.
Concussions are far less frequent but there has been a definite increase in injury to the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee (eight in 2004, three 2003). Only two of these occurred in ruck contests.
New cases of the dreaded osteitis pubis groin complaint are up (nine versus seven) and seems to be more prevalent in younger players.
There has also been more foot stress fractures (five) than at this stage last year (three).
There are so many variables which affect the injury rate that it can be difficult to compare seasons.
Weather, ground conditions (grass type and maintenance), fixturing (more risk of injuries at interstate venues), footwear and club performance all influence injury risk.
When a club is doing well it is less likely to rush back an injured star before he is 100 per cent ready, so the risk of recurrence is lower.
Conversely, a second-tier player will sometimes feel internal pressure to resume too soon in order to regain his position in the side.
It is common for the injury rate to stabilise after the break but it can rise towards the end of the year as fatigue and pressure to make finals sets in.
All clubs will be hoping that they have had the last of their serious injuries for the year.
Unfortunately history tells me that we still have a few ahead in the next nine weeks.
Injury-free run is best break
30 June 2004 Herald Sun
THERE is no doubt that the week off has allowed many players to recharge batteries and deal with the aches and niggles which always accumulate by mid-season.
Round 13 photos
Carey, Smart retire
'Inappropriate' undies?
Most teams will regain players from the injury list and be close to full strength for the first time in many weeks.
The results in the AFL's 2003 injury survey showed that the overall injury rate last year was the lowest in the 12 years since proper records were kept.
Hamstring injury returned as the No. 1 cause of missed games (replacing groin injury).
The recurrence rate was lower but time missed was a little longer, reflecting a more conservative approach by clubs to soft-tissue injury management.
Injuries to the shoulder region were up, but concussion, groin injury and corked thighs were down as causes of missed game time. There was the usual collection of knee ligament and cartilage problems as well as ankle, leg and arm injuries.
So how does the injury patterns of 2004 compare with 2003.
Based on my own records (official AFL data is not yet available) hamstrings will again dominate the 2004 survey.
In the 2004 pre-season there were more players missing with hamstring complaints than in any previous season.
This may reflect the amount of intense sprint training done by clubs during preparation. It also means those players are more likely to be re-injured during the season.
Already Essendon and Sydney have passed the entire season AFL average of six hammy injuries per club.
Some clubs are having a worse-than-usual run of injuries to mid-year.
Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Brisbane and Essendon have been near the top of the "injury ladder", no doubt affecting their season.
In particular, Brisbane had a number of top players below their best due to interrupted pre-seasons but some have begun to show their best form.
It has been a bonus for them to have Michael Voss get substantial game time despite his chronic knee problems.
Significant hammy problems have also affected Nathan Buckley and Anthony Koutoufides and although both have returned to play, they are still at risk.
James Hird continues to experience unusual injuries although his hyphema (blood in the eye) did not keep him out for as long as predicted.
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are well down this year -- there have been three knee reconstructions since Round 1 (nine at the same point in 2003).
Overall, serious knee injury rates are slightly down and there have been many less arthroscopes this year.
Shoulder injuries appear to be prevalent again with an increase in AC joint sprains.
Concussions are far less frequent but there has been a definite increase in injury to the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee (eight in 2004, three 2003). Only two of these occurred in ruck contests.
New cases of the dreaded osteitis pubis groin complaint are up (nine versus seven) and seems to be more prevalent in younger players.
There has also been more foot stress fractures (five) than at this stage last year (three).
There are so many variables which affect the injury rate that it can be difficult to compare seasons.
Weather, ground conditions (grass type and maintenance), fixturing (more risk of injuries at interstate venues), footwear and club performance all influence injury risk.
When a club is doing well it is less likely to rush back an injured star before he is 100 per cent ready, so the risk of recurrence is lower.
Conversely, a second-tier player will sometimes feel internal pressure to resume too soon in order to regain his position in the side.
It is common for the injury rate to stabilise after the break but it can rise towards the end of the year as fatigue and pressure to make finals sets in.
All clubs will be hoping that they have had the last of their serious injuries for the year.
Unfortunately history tells me that we still have a few ahead in the next nine weeks.