Dietzen C J, Topping B R
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, USA.
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 1999 Feb;10(1):159-75.
Rugby union football continues to gain in popularity in the United States. Both men's and women's clubs have been established at several colleges and universities. There has been substantial growth in the number of high school rugby football clubs in recent years. With the increase in numbers of young participants in this sport, it is important that great efforts be mounted to attempt to control the injury rates and severity of injuries in rugby football. Players and coaches must be knowledgeable of the rules of the game, and referees must strictly enforce these rules. Physicians and dentists should be involved in educating parents, coaches, players, and school officials about the inherent risks of injury and the means for injury prevention. Medical personnel must also be instrumental in educating players about alcohol abuse/addiction. Rugby players should be encouraged to use the limited protective gear that is allowed: wraps, tape, joint sleeves, scrum caps, and facial grease to prevent lacerations. Mouthguards are strongly recommended at any level of play and should be mandated. The use of helmets, face masks, and shoulder pads has been suggested by some authors. Such rule changes could actually increase injury rates and severity, because this equipment could be used as weapons as they are in American football. It is recommended that rugby clubs purchase or build equipment to practice scrummage skills. Coaches should be experienced and attend clinics or complete video courses on medical emergencies and safe techniques of the game. Injury frequency and severity can be decreased by adequate preseason training and conditioning, proper tackling and falling techniques, strengthening of neck muscles, and allowing only experienced, fit athletes to play in the front row. Medical surveillance must be improved at matches and, ideally, at practice sessions. At present, it is common for no emergency medical personnel or physicians to be present at matches in the United States. Better case registers are necessary to monitor rugby injuries, but more medical professionals must become involved in the sport to obtain useful data. Rugby players will respect the advice of a medical adviser, providing he or she is knowledgeable. This is a hardy group of athletes with a cavalier attitude, as evidenced by the injury statistics and the case studies above. Their sport can be made safer without diminishing the intensity of the game or the camaraderie the players enjoy.
英式橄榄球联盟在美国的受欢迎程度持续上升。在几所学院和大学中，男子和女子俱乐部都已成立。近年来，高中英式橄榄球俱乐部的数量大幅增长。随着这项运动中年轻参与者数量的增加，加大力度控制英式橄榄球的受伤率和受伤严重程度至关重要。球员和教练必须熟悉比赛规则，裁判必须严格执行这些规则。医生和牙医应参与对家长、教练、球员和学校官员进行有关受伤固有风险及预防受伤方法的教育。医务人员还必须在教育球员认识酒精滥用/成瘾问题方面发挥作用。应鼓励橄榄球运动员使用允许的有限防护装备：绷带、胶带、关节护具、争球帽和面部油脂以防止撕裂伤。在任何比赛级别都强烈建议并应强制使用护齿。一些作者建议使用头盔、面罩和肩垫。但这样的规则改变实际上可能会增加受伤率和受伤严重程度，因为这些装备可能会像在美国橄榄球中那样被用作武器。建议橄榄球俱乐部购买或制造用于练习争球技巧的装备。教练应经验丰富，并参加关于医疗急救和比赛安全技术的培训课程或完整视频教程。通过充分的季前训练和体能训练、正确的擒抱和摔倒技巧、加强颈部肌肉力量以及只允许经验丰富、身体健康的运动员在前排比赛，可以降低受伤频率和严重程度。在比赛中，理想情况下在训练期间，医疗监督必须得到改善。目前，在美国的比赛中通常没有急救医务人员或医生在场。需要更好的病例登记来监测橄榄球运动中的伤病情况，但必须有更多的医学专业人员参与这项运动才能获得有用的数据。只要医疗顾问知识渊博，橄榄球运动员会尊重其建议。从上述伤病统计数据和案例研究可以看出，这是一群态度随意、顽强的运动员。在不降低比赛强度或球员所享受的情谊的情况下，可以让他们的运动变得更安全。
