The reporting of injury epidemiology and risk factors in women's rugby : a scoping review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES : To map the methodology in currently available scientific literature on injury epidemiology and injury risk factors in women’s rugby union. DESIGN : A scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. METHODS : Studies reporting injury epidemiology or injury risk factors in women’s rugby union were included through a search across nine databases. Studies were screened based on the eligibility criteria, and data were extracted and analysed from the studies that were included. RESULTS : Out of 3259 records produced, 55 studies met the inclusion criteria. There was an increase in publications over the last decade, but a lack of studies across Africa and South America. Most studies (n = 17; 31 %) used unique injury definitions, and collected injury data using clinical assessment (n = 26; 47 %). Twenty-five different injury incidence measures were reported, and 33 (60 %) studies reported injury prevalence. Thirty-one (56%) studies investigated risk factors associated with injury in women’s rugby. Sixteen (52 %) studies pooled the data for males and females or rugby fifteens, sevens, and tens. CONCLUSIONS : Current research on women’s rugby injuries highlights several gaps, including limited research across certain countries, pooled data reporting, and univariate risk factor analysis without injured-uninjured player comparisons. Despite existing consensus statements for injury in female sports, studies used varied reporting of injury incidence and prevalence, with most studies using their own study definitions and reporting methods. Future research should follow published guidelines and focus specifically on women’s rugby.