Citation

Lopez V, Ma R, Weinstein MG, Cantu RC, Myers LS, Nadkar NS, Victoria C, Allen AA. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2016; 48(7): 1320-1330.

Affiliation

1Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, New York, NY; 2USA Rugby Empire Geographic Union RFU, New York, NY; 3Auckland University of Technology, Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Rugby Codes Research Group, Auckland, New Zealand; 4University of Missouri, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, Columbia, MO; 5New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York, NY; 6Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; 7Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; 8Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA; 9Department of Surgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA; 10Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA; 11Neurologic Sports Injury Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA; 12Sports Legacy Institute, Waltham, MA; 13World Rugby, Independent Concussion Group, Dublin, Ireland; 14Advanced Therapeutics Physical Therapy, Inc., Florence, MA; 15Seton Hall University, Department of Physical Therapy, South Orange Village, NJ; 16Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0000000000000892

PMID

26829001

Abstract

PURPOSE: There is a comparative lack of concussion incidence data on the new Olympic sport Rugby-7s. To determine the incidence (number of concussions per 1000 playing hours(ph)), mean and median severity (days absence), and cause of concussive injuries.

METHODS: A prospective epidemiology study, amateur to elite/national candidate, male (9,768) and female (3,876) players in USA Rugby sanctioned tournaments; compliant with the international consensus statement for studies in rugby union.

RESULTS: Concussions in U.S. Rugby-7s were 7.7/1000 player hours (n=67). Women encountered concussions at 8.1/1000ph, and men at 7.6/1000ph (RR=1.10; P=0.593). Elite/national level players encountered concussions at higher rates (18.3/1000ph) than lower levels (6.4/1000ph; RR=5.48; P<0.001). Non-elite backs had higher concussive injury rates compared to forwards (7.7/1000ph; 3.6/1000ph; RR: 1.28; P=0.024). Women missed 36.7 days absence from play, meanwhile men missed 27.9 days (P=0.245). Retrospective history recall reflected previous concussive injuries occurred in 43% of the current study's cohort, of these 57% encountered multiple concussions within one-year. Incidence of repetitive concussions was not statistically different between genders (RR=1.09; P=0.754). Most concussions occurred from tackles (63%) and collisions (24%) (P=0.056).

CONCLUSION: Sports-related concussions occurred with frequency among U.S. amateur Rugby-7s players. U.S. Elite tournament players sustained concussions at much higher rates than international male Rugby-7s counterparts. A substantial portions of U.S. players who sustained a concussion had previous concussion injuries. Given the high rate of concussion, including repetitive concussive injuries, U.S. Rugby-7s may benefit from concussion prevention measures similar to other contact sports such as instruction on proper tackling techniques, in-game and post-game medical assessment, and a standardized return to play protocol.

Language: en