@article{ref1,
title="Concussive injuries in rugby-7s: an American experience and current review",
journal="Medicine and science in sports and exercise",
year="2016",
author="Lopez, Victor and Ma, Richard and Weinstein, Meryle G. and Cantu, Robert C. and Myers, Laurel S. D. and Nadkar, Nisha S. and Victoria, Christian and Allen, Answorth A.",
volume="48",
number="7",
pages="1320-1330",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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). <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-9131",
doi="10.1249/MSS.0000000000000892",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000892"
}