Even for casual players, headgear can help
to avoid concussion.
Image: iStockphoto
“Importantly, our research showed that non-professional rugby players have a high incidence of concussion," said Professor Mark Stevenson, of the George Institute. "This is concerning for parents, schools and communities involved in various rugby codes. We also showed that players who had sustained a recent concussion prior to the rugby season, were almost two times more likely to sustain a subsequent concussion during the rugby season. It also highlighted the potential benefit of headgear in reducing a players risk of concussion. What this research tells parents, schools and those managing rugby teams is that they need to pay particular attention to those players who have sustained a concussion.”
Mild traumatic brain injury is an emerging public health issue in high-contact sports like rugby. It is particularly concerning as many young people across the country are engaged in the sport at a range of ages, and there is little evidence on the long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury (or concussion). It’s vital that we conduct research in this field, so that we build the evidence and more effectively understand the issues.
