Headgear essential in amateur sport
9 October 2009
Non-professional players of heavy contact sports such as rugby union should wear headgear to reduce the incidence of mild traumatic brain injuries, according to findings from an Australian study (Am J Sports Med, in press).
Close to one in 10 players sustained such an injury during a short period and researchers said headgear and better management of prior concussion would reduce the incidence.
Of 3207 non-professional rugby players, 313 (9.8 per cent) sustained a mild traumatic brain injury over 1 to 3 seasons, they said. This meant the incidence of mild traumatic brain injury was 7.97 per 1000 player game hours.
Incidence of mild traumatic brain injury was reduced by 43 per cent among players wearing headgear, but almost doubled among those with at least one or more prior concussions.
The extra risk among this latter group meant ‘the need for medically trained support staff for effective recognition of mild traumatic brain injury and the importance of preventing premature return to play is highlighted,’ the authors said.
Last Reviewed: 09 October 2009
