Return-to-play after injury: practices in New Zealand rugby union

Abstract

Objectives. The high incidence of injury in rugby union, influences team performance and entails substantial treatment costs. Investigations into rugby injury suggest that premature return to play may be a preventable cause of many injuries. This study reports on the practices used by elite and club level New Zealand rugby teams for assessing readiness to return-to-play (RTP) after injury. Design. A brief questionnaire was mailed directly to 79 coaches, trainers, physiotherapists and doctors working with 10 National Provincial Champion (NPC) and 11 Club teams. Main outcome measures. The questionnaire sought information on RTP procedures used, employing questions using a Likert scale, and rank ordering questions. Results. A response rate of 73% was recorded. Results demonstrated that the NPC teams used a more structured approach to assessment. Full recovery was not always deemed necessary before a player returned to training and competition, and set procedures were not always communicated or followed. Despite the high profile given to ‘fitness testing’, this element did not rank highly as a return to play criteria. Conclusions: This study indicates that RTP evaluations do not appear to follow set procedures. The high incidence of reinjury in rugby union could potentially be reduced through the use of standardised RTP assessment procedures.