1. Trends in match concussion incidence and return-to-play time in male professional Rugby Union: A 16-season prospective cohort study
- Author
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John H M Brooks, Aileen Taylor, Duncan Locke, Grant Trewartha, Keith Stokes, Stephen W. West, Osman Hassan Ahmed, Simon Kemp, and Matthew Cross
- Subjects
Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Incidence ,Incidence (epidemiology) ,Football ,Neuroscience (miscellaneous) ,medicine.disease ,Return to play ,Return to Sport ,Athletic Injuries ,Concussion ,Epidemiology ,Developmental and Educational Psychology ,medicine ,Humans ,Prospective Studies ,Seasons ,Neurology (clinical) ,Prospective cohort study ,business ,human activities ,Brain Concussion ,Demography - Abstract
AIM To describe trends in the incidence of match concussions and time to return-to-play in professional rugby union. 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). 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
- Published
- 2021