E-30 Free Communication/Poster - Epidemiology of Physical Activity and Health in Older Adults

Abstract

Multiple, physical collisions are inherent to the sport of rugby and expose the body to large magnitudes of direct force, with a consequential risk of injury. Despite the significant forces to the spine of players during rugby collisions and tackles, there have been few published reports of vertebral fractures in this population. PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of vertebral deformities consistent with vertebral fracture in a group of professional male rugby players. METHODS: Ninety five professional rugby league (n=52) and rugby union (n=43) players (n=95; age 25.9 (SD 4.3) years; body mass index: 29.5 (SD 2.9) kg.m2) participated in the research. There were 49 backs and 46 forwards. Each participant received one vertebral fracture assessment (VFA), and one total body and lumbar spine DXA scan. Primary outcomes were type and grade of vertebral fracture identified using VFA and according to the Genant classification. Secondary outcomes were lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), total lean mass and fat mass. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty vertebral deformities in total were identified. Seventy five were graded mild (grade 1), 40 moderate (grade 2) and 6 severe (grade 3). Multiple deformities (>2) were found in 37 players (39%). There were no differences in prevalence between codes, or between forwards and backs (both 1.2 v 1.4; p>0.05). The most common sites of deformity were T8 (n=23), T9 (n=18) and T10 (n=21). The most frequent deformity identified was wedge fracture (n=50), followed by biconcave (n=44) and crush (n=26). All severe deformities were wedge. Mean (SD) lumbar spine BMD Z-score was 2.7 (1.3) indicating markedly high player bone mass in comparison with age- and sex-matched norms. Prevalent vertebral deformity was not associated with age, anthropometry, or BMD, suggesting that other factors, especially trauma, may be implicated in aetiology. CONCLUSION: We observed a high number of predominantly asymptomatic vertebral deformities consistent with fracture in professional rugby players of both codes. The short term and long term implications for injury risk and health are unknown, and warrant timely, prospective investigation.