Abstract
An eight-season (2005/06–2012/13) prospective cohort design was used to record time-loss
injuries in 15 English Premiership teams. Data pertaining to a total of 1 556 players
and 9 597 injuries (8 180 subsequent) were included in the analysis. Injuries subsequent
to an index injury were classified as (1) New: different site; (2) Local: same site
(and different type); or (3) Recurrent: same site and type. The severity of subsequent
injuries (days missed) was compared with their related index injury. The proportions
of early (<2 months), late (2–12 months) and delayed (>12 months) subsequent injuries
were compared across injury classifications and diagnosis groupings. The majority
of subsequent injuries (70%) were classified as new injuries, with 14% local and 16%
recurrent. A large proportion of recurrent subsequent injuries (42%) occurred within
two months of return-to-play. Subsequent injuries were not more severe than their
corresponding index injury (effect sizes <0.20). Specific local and recurrent subsequent
injury diagnoses with the highest risk of occurring within two months of return-to-play
were: ‘neck muscle strain’, ‘ankle joint capsule sprain’, and ‘cervical nerve root’
injuries. These findings may be used to drive targeted secondary prevention efforts,
such as reconsideration of return-to-play protocols for neck muscle strain injuries.
Key words
secondary injury prevention - subsequent injury classification - recurrent injury
- re-injury - return to play
