On average, a professional rugby union player is more likely than not to sustain a concussion after 25 matches

Rafferty, James, Ranson, Craig, Oatley, Giles, Mostafa, Mohamed ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9870-8637, Mathema, Prabhat, Crick, Tom and Moore, Isabel S 2019. On average, a professional rugby union player is more likely than not to sustain a concussion after 25 matches. British Journal of Sports Medicine 53 (15) , pp. 969-973. 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098417

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Abstract

Objectives To investigate concussion injury rates, the likelihood of sustaining concussion relative to the number of rugby union matches and the risk of subsequent injury following concussion. Methods A four-season (2012/2013–2015/2016) prospective cohort study of injuries in professional level (club and international) rugby union. Incidence (injuries/1000 player-match-hours), severity (days lost per injury) and number of professional matches conferring a large risk of concussion were determined. The risk of injury following concussion was assessed using a survival model. Results Concussion incidence increased from 7.9 (95% CI 5.1 to 11.7) to 21.5 injuries/1000 player-match-hours (95% CI 16.4 to 27.6) over the four seasons for combined club and international rugby union. Concussion severity was unchanged over time (median: 9 days). Players were at a greater risk of sustaining a concussion than not after an exposure of 25 matches (95% CI 19 to 32). Injury risk (any injury) was 38% greater (HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.56) following concussion than after a non-concussive injury. Injuries to the head and neck (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.70), upper limb (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.19 to 2.12), pelvic region (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.65) and the lower limb (HR 1.60; 95% CI 1.21 to 2.10) were more likely following concussion than after a non-concussive injury. Conclusion Concussion incidence increased, while severity remained unchanged, during the 4 years of this study. Playing more than 25 matches in the 2015/2016 season meant that sustaining concussion was more likely than not sustaining concussion. The 38% greater injury risk after concussive injury (compared with non-concussive injury) suggests return to play protocols warrant investigation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Computer Science & Informatics
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:	0306-3674
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	14 May 2018
Date of Acceptance:	17 February 2018
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 01:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/111353

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