(i) The diagnosis and treatment of shoulder injuries in contact and collision athletes

Shoulder injuries are extremely prevalent in collision athletes and comprise up to 80% of injuries sustained in contact sports such as rugby. There presently exists no specific guidelines on return to play for shoulder injuries in contact and collision athletes. The diagnosis and management of these injuries therefore relies heavily on the clinical assessment and judgement of the treating surgeon. This review aims to outline the types of injuries sustained by contact and collision athletes and illustrates the means to assess, treat and manage the wide range of shoulder injuries that occur in this specific patient population, from sideline management by the team doctor through to orthopaedic surgical management.