This weekend will see the start of Rugby's greatest championship in the form of the Six Nations where the six greats of European rugby come together for a spectacular tournament. The annual event has seen five grand slams, where a team wins every game in the tournament and was first achieved in 1908 and 1909 by Wales.
Rugby is one of the more popular sports in the UK with 159,000 people playing Rugby Union at least once a week in 2013; a further 53,500 took part in Rugby League. However the number of people involved in rugby decreased from the previous year. The extreme physical nature of the sport could be one of the reasons behind this..
Some of the most common muscle based rugby injuries noted in professional rugby between 2002 and 2012 were:
Thigh haematoma
A haematoma is an accumulation of blood, in this case within the thigh muscles. The symptoms include inflammation of the area which can be quite painful as well as reducing mobility.. They are prevalent in rugby due to the high level of contact, particularly in tackling when the shoulder collides with the thigh. Following initial diagnosis of a haematoma in the thigh it is important to apply ice to the area, elevate the leg, apply compression to the area and rest.:
Rest - this is relative to normal function, once the pain has lessened enough to move the limb then it should be mobilised.
Ice - the use of ice is proposed to reduce blood flow and ease the pain and swelling.
Compression - it has been shown that compression can aid in reduction of the swelling by reducing blood flow in the muscle. Compression Shorts are one way to achieve this.
Elevation - as with ice and compression it is proposed that elevating the leg can aid with reducing the swelling.
Heat, ultrasound and exercise can be prescribed by a physiotherapist to continue the recovery.
Hamstring muscle injury (excluding haematomas)
The hamstring group of muscles are responsible for bending the leg at the knee and bringing the thigh to a 'standing position' and beyond. Healthy hamstrings are essential for sprinting and jumping activities. Overstretching the muscles or even tearing them during exercise can be extremely painful and debilitating. Following the RICE principle is advised in the early stages of recovery. The warm up before exercise and cooling down afterwards can reduce the risk of damaging the hamstrings during exercise..
Calf muscle injury
The calf muscles act to lift the heel and allow forward propulsion. As with all muscles they can become damaged, either from continuous overuse or from a sudden stretching or trauma. The severity of the strain can range from tightness and slight pain after the activity to a complete rupturing of the muscle; this will cause a sudden stabbing pain and an inability to walk without pain. Initial rest is recommended but a return to light exercise should occur as quickly as possible. The best form of treatment rest, allowing the muscle time to heal naturally, though ice and elevation can help to reduce inflammation.. Surgery may be required where there is a rupture of the muscle, requiring it to be stitched back together before intensive physiotherapy to strengthen the muscle..
What are compression shorts?
This article focuses on areas of the body where compression shorts can be used to aid rehabilitation following injury to the hamstring and thigh, so here is a brief bit of information about what they are and what they do.
The shorts work to enhance athletic performance through a reduction in muscle vibration, thereby minimising waste energy.. They also work to enhance endurance of the athlete by minimising unnecessary movement thereby reducing wasted energy.
Compression shorts can be worn both as a post injury solution but equally as a preventative measure to enhance performance as described above through minimising the strain on the muscle groups.
Final Thoughts
Muscle based rugby injuries can be very frustrating for amateurs and athletes alike as no one likes to spend time on the sidelines. The majority of these injuries are self-limiting and you should expect to recover following a period of rest though the use of physiotherapy and sports braces can help to speed up your recovery following injury. If you are ever unsure as to the severity of an injury then you should seek a professional diagnosis.
Rugby is one of the more popular sports in the UK with 159,000 people playing Rugby Union at least once a week in 2013; a further 53,500 took part in Rugby League. However the number of people involved in rugby decreased from the previous year. The extreme physical nature of the sport could be one of the reasons behind this..
Some of the most common muscle based rugby injuries noted in professional rugby between 2002 and 2012 were:
Thigh haematoma
A haematoma is an accumulation of blood, in this case within the thigh muscles. The symptoms include inflammation of the area which can be quite painful as well as reducing mobility.. They are prevalent in rugby due to the high level of contact, particularly in tackling when the shoulder collides with the thigh. Following initial diagnosis of a haematoma in the thigh it is important to apply ice to the area, elevate the leg, apply compression to the area and rest.:
Rest - this is relative to normal function, once the pain has lessened enough to move the limb then it should be mobilised.
Ice - the use of ice is proposed to reduce blood flow and ease the pain and swelling.
Compression - it has been shown that compression can aid in reduction of the swelling by reducing blood flow in the muscle. Compression Shorts are one way to achieve this.
Elevation - as with ice and compression it is proposed that elevating the leg can aid with reducing the swelling.
Heat, ultrasound and exercise can be prescribed by a physiotherapist to continue the recovery.
Hamstring muscle injury (excluding haematomas)
The hamstring group of muscles are responsible for bending the leg at the knee and bringing the thigh to a 'standing position' and beyond. Healthy hamstrings are essential for sprinting and jumping activities. Overstretching the muscles or even tearing them during exercise can be extremely painful and debilitating. Following the RICE principle is advised in the early stages of recovery. The warm up before exercise and cooling down afterwards can reduce the risk of damaging the hamstrings during exercise..
Calf muscle injury
The calf muscles act to lift the heel and allow forward propulsion. As with all muscles they can become damaged, either from continuous overuse or from a sudden stretching or trauma. The severity of the strain can range from tightness and slight pain after the activity to a complete rupturing of the muscle; this will cause a sudden stabbing pain and an inability to walk without pain. Initial rest is recommended but a return to light exercise should occur as quickly as possible. The best form of treatment rest, allowing the muscle time to heal naturally, though ice and elevation can help to reduce inflammation.. Surgery may be required where there is a rupture of the muscle, requiring it to be stitched back together before intensive physiotherapy to strengthen the muscle..
What are compression shorts?
This article focuses on areas of the body where compression shorts can be used to aid rehabilitation following injury to the hamstring and thigh, so here is a brief bit of information about what they are and what they do.
The shorts work to enhance athletic performance through a reduction in muscle vibration, thereby minimising waste energy.. They also work to enhance endurance of the athlete by minimising unnecessary movement thereby reducing wasted energy.
Compression shorts can be worn both as a post injury solution but equally as a preventative measure to enhance performance as described above through minimising the strain on the muscle groups.
Final Thoughts
Muscle based rugby injuries can be very frustrating for amateurs and athletes alike as no one likes to spend time on the sidelines. The majority of these injuries are self-limiting and you should expect to recover following a period of rest though the use of physiotherapy and sports braces can help to speed up your recovery following injury. If you are ever unsure as to the severity of an injury then you should seek a professional diagnosis.