@article{ref1,
title="Trends in match concussion incidence and return-to-play time in male professional Rugby Union: a 16-season prospective cohort study",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2021",
author="West, Stephen W. and Cross, Matthew and Trewartha, Grant and Taylor, Aileen and Brooks, John and Kemp, Simon and Locke, Duncan and Ahmed, Osman and Stokes, Keith",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="AIM: To describe trends in the incidence of match concussions and time to return-to-play in professional rugby union. <br><br>METHODS: Match concussion incidence (injuries per 1000 player-match-hours) and time to return-to-play (mean and median days absence) were recorded in 3006 male professional rugby union players over 16 seasons (2002/03 - 2018/19). <br><br>RESULTS: From 2002/03 to 2009/10, incidence of concussions was stable at 4.3/1000 player-match-hours. From 2009/10 to 2018/19, there was an increase in concussion incidence, with the highest incidence in 2016/17 at 20.9/1000 player-match-hours (95% CI: 17.9-24.3). Annual prevalence of concussion also increased, suggesting more players were concussed rather than the same players sustaining more concussions. Before the introduction of standardized graduated return-to-play (GRTP) guidelines in 2011, 27% of players returned to play in <6 days. After the introduction of the GRTP, this decreased to 7%, with no players returning in <6 days after 2014/15. Between 2002/03 and 2018/19, incidence of all other injuries remained stable. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: From 2009/10 onwards, the incidence of diagnosed concussions increased. Since the introduction of the GRTP, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of players returning in <6 days.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.1080/02699052.2021.1972142",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2021.1972142"
}