injuryupdate
21-07-2004, 12:57 PM
In the first week of June, in Melbourne, the AFL released the 2003 injury report, the 12th consecutive annual injury survey. This has shown a remarkable decrease in injury incidence, injury prevalence and injury recurrence rates for season 2003, to the point where all of these indicators are at their lowest point ever recorded. Click to read the full report (.pdf). All of these major indicators have shown a continuing decrease from their highs in roughly 1997 to the levels of today. In 1997, 18.1% of players were missing from the game through injury in an average week. This figure has dropped to 13.5% in 2003. Most injury categories have recorded a fall, particularly the lower limb and head and neck injuries. Improved medical management at club level, improved surveillance of ground conditions and the AFL's Research Board funding of multiple projects focused on prevention have been the major factors responsible for the drop in injuries over this time period.