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Injury comparison between Football Codes

Only one study has simultaneously compared the three major football codes in Australia. This study, by Seward and co-workers, examined injury rates of the three major competitions in season 1992. Read the full paper: Football injuries in Australia (Med J Aust 1993, 159:298-301, scanned .pdf)

The following table from the study details injury incidence in units of injuries/10,000 player match hours. Please note that rugby union was an amateur sport during this study and it is understood that injury rates have increased since this time.

Injury Incidence 1992 AFL Rugby League (NSWRL) Rugby Union (Sydney Club)
Head/facial Lacerations 41 193 119
Hamstring strain/tears 88 81 20
Concussion 24 145 31
Cork thighs 38 102 11
Ankle sprains (lateral) 35 107 28
Groin strains 38 45 6
Knee medial lig. tears 15 62 14
A/C joint injuries 15 38 20
Low back strains 14 50 6
Rib fracture/bruising 19 40 14
Calf strain/tears 17 14 11
Quadriceps strains 22 14 3
Neck strains 3 38 14
Knee haematoma 6 24 9
Calf haematoma 12 19 *
Dislocated shoulders 8 14 9
Anterior cruciate tears 6 10 9
Stress fractures (all types) 10 7 *
Fractured noses 3 17 14
Eye injuries 5 16 3
Bruised hip/iliac crest 13 17 *
Knee meniscus/chondral 15 19 11
Rotator cuff pathology 5 12 3
Shoulder subluxations 4 14 *
Medial ankle sprain 1 10 6
Posterior cruciate injuries 4 7 3

* None reported by survey teams

To post a comment or ask a question about these injuries, visit the injuryupdate Forum, click here.