Clubs 'failing on player health'

Rugby players are at particular risk of spinal deterioration

Poorer sports clubs are less likely to carry out full health checks on players, a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests.

Sixty-five clubs from the football Premiership and Championship, rugby union and rugby league, as well as county cricket, were examined.

Almost 90% of the soccer and 50% of the rugby union Premiership clubs recorded pre-employment medical histories.

But less than half of the cricket and rugby union division one clubs did so.

Researchers said they were most surprised at the discrepancy between the rugby union Premiership and division one clubs.

Dr Colin Fuller at the Centre for Sports Medicine noted for instance that only one division one club had a full-time physiotherapist on staff.

There appeared to be a relationship between a club's wealth and the amount it was able to invest in carrying out comprehensive health checks, he said.

While sportsmen may have a reputation for being beacons of health, they are at significant risk of long-term problems.

Osteoarthritis is a particular threat for footballers, while spinal deterioration has led to the retirement of a string of rugby players.

Cardiovascular screening

Sports clubs are not legally required to carry out health checks on their players, but it is recommended that tests are carried out before employment, before the season starts, and after any injury.

Ideally, these checks should include examinations of cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal systems. A general medical history should also be recorded.

The Rugby Football Union is committed to improving the care provided to players at all levels RFU statement

Professional football clubs performed some of the most thorough tests, according to the study - a reflection, Dr Fuller said, of the amount they tended to have invested in their players.

On the cardiovascular front, for example, most of the football clubs and rugby union Premiership clubs ordered screening prior to taking a player on.

Researchers said this was one of the most important tests for players given the risk of death from unidentified heart conditions among those who participate in high-intensity sports.

But fewer than 40% of the rugby union division one and cricket clubs undertook any form of pre-employment cardiovascular screening.

In addition, the rugby union division one clubs were less assiduous in recording whether a player had a history of concussion than their Premiership counterparts.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) said in a statement that it was "committed to improving the care provided to players at all levels".

It added that while it was the responsibility of individual club's medical staff to advise on health checks, the RFU medical officer was currently assisting with "the development of their medical standards".

"These will ensure that all clubs have appropriately trained and resourced healthcare staff to provide care to their players and advice to the club management."