Lower limb injuries in men’s elite Gaelic football: a prospective investigation among division one teams from 2008 to 2015

Objectives To prospectively investigate incidence and associated time-loss of lower limb injuries in elite Gaelic football. Additionally, to identify sub-groups of elite players at increased risk of sustaining a lower limb injury. Design Prospective, epidemiological study. Methods Team physiotherapists provided exposure and injury on a weekly basis to the National Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Injury Surveillance Database. Injury was defined using a time-loss criterion. Fifteen different teams participated throughout the 8-year study providing 36 team datasets from 2008 to 2015. Results Lower limb injuries (n = 1239) accounted for 83.5% (95% CI 82.0–85.0) and 77.6% (95% CI 75.8–79.4) of training and match-play injuries, respectively. Injury incidence was 4.5 (95% CI 3.7–5.2) and 38.4 (95% CI 34.3–42.60) per 1000 training and match-play hours, respectively. One-in-four (25.0%, 95% CI 22.4–27.0) lower limb injuries were recurrent. Non-contact injuries accounted for 80.9% (95% CI 79.2–82.6) of cases. The median team rate was 30 (IQR 24–43) lower limb injuries per season resulting in 840.8 (95% CI 773.3–908.2) time-loss days. Previously injured players had a 2.5-times (OR 95% CI 2.2–2.8) greater risk of sustaining a lower limb injury. Overall, 56.8% of players with a previous lower limb injury sustained another. Incidence was higher for forward players and those aged >25 years. Conclusions Lower limb injuries are the most common injury among elite division one Gaelic football teams. Injury risk management should become an ongoing component of a player’s development programme and considers injury history, age, and playing position.