Hoping for some assistance from anywhere really.

My daughters boyfriend is a medical student at Leeds Uni and as part of his studies this year he is attempting to analyse the occurrence of and the rehabilitaion of ACL injuries within professional Rugby League, and to compare this with the same injuries elsewhere.

He has written to all the club doctors in both Super League and Championship clubs with a very limited response.

Does anyone know if this statistical information is out anywhere in the public domain and if so where can it be found?

I did suggest to him that a very good contact would be Phil Clarke from Sky as he seems to have a very good graps of all things statistical and also has a number of contacts within this sphere, however we wouldn't have a clue how to contact Phil - does anybody know how we could contact Phil?

If anyone has any suggestions or can offer any assistance we would be very grateful.

Many thanks

Dave

Had this done 3 times on same knee after playing so have a suggestion for you - check your inbox.

I know players who's done their ACL and it's very bad injury and a tough one to get back on the field playing but to come back three times takes some doing

I've broke bones, dislocated thumbs and shoulders, done ankle ligaments and obviously fair share of cuts but touch wood I'll never do anything like a ACL.

Clarke mentioned a tutor at Bolton Uni looking into this. It was in one of his stat things at the start of Boots n All I think. Possibly the Wednesday after the lad did his Achilles at Widnes.

As for contacting Clarke. Angela Powers is pretty good on twitter so she may be able to help.

It's odd. A few years ago I remember reading an article in which surgeons were claiming a breakthrough in the treatment of ACL ruptures which would cut recovery times from nine months down to six or eight weeks. IIRC, it involved taking a graft from another part of the body. I've heard nothing since so I can only assume it's either failed or is still under clinical trial.

ACL injuries really are a nightmare for any club as you lose the player for a full season and put the squad under intense pressure. Mind you, I suppose we should be grateful for existing treatment methods. Prior to around the time when Gazza blew out his knee an ACL injury signalled the death of your career. IIRC, it was the same that ended Brian Clough's playing days.

Not RL i know, but in the USA there are extensive research papers on the effects of different playing surfaces re player injuries.

It could provide a base in terms of how to approach the subject, or even a contrast between the two sports.

Dr Lisa Hodgson - head of Sports Medicine at the RFL - email at the bottom of this link

rlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/community/news_item.php?id

When i did mine, they did a patella tendon graft. The other way of doing it is with a hamstring stretch.

As for researching it, id look at footwear as a cause too, especially bladed boots

Thanks for all your responses and suggestions.

All the information has now been passed on and the ball is now in his court.

Thanks once again

Dave