We have reached my final blog about rugby specific injuries and what a topic to finish with - concussion! Preventing concussion in rugby is an area I have a wealth of experience in and a topic I am fiercely passionate about. So sorry if this blog is a little heavy at times but if you play this sometimes brutal game you need to protect yourself.
Concussion in rugby has been in the headlines for what seems like forever. It is unfortunately inevitable in such a high energy contact sport however it is still an all too common occurrence in all levels of rugby. At the turn of the century a paper was released titled ‘concussion in rugby: A Hidden Epidemic’. This paper, alongside some poorly managed high-level cases threw concussion in rugby into the limelight and the RFU have been trying to make rugby safer ever since. The RFU have lead campaign after campaign over the past 20 years to try and tackle the issue however a paper released in 2014 revealed things aren’t improving significantly.
This paper revealed; if 1000 men played an hour of rugby:
1. Roughly 5 of them would be concussed by the end of that hour.
2. During Rugby 7’s the risk is less, 'only' 3 of them would be concussed.
3. In elite level rugby just 1 man would be concussed.
- suggesting that despite the elite level being the level where the greatest forces occur, if you get the right tackling technique it can protect players.
4. The headline for some though is that, forwards were less likely to have concussion after the hour in comparison to backs.
- I think this just adds fuel to the backs vs forwards battle that is ongoing in most rugby changing rooms up and down the country.
In all grades of rugby; juniors, women’s & men’s - concussion should be taken very seriously and if anyone is showing signs of concussion they should be removed from the field and seek medical attention immediately. Professional rugby has introduced ‘Head Injury Assessments (HIA)’ mid-game however this can only be performed at elite level rugby and should not be attempted at any other level. Anyone showing signs of concussion in amateur rugby should never be allowed back onto the field. Concussion can be extremely dangerous and sitting in the pub after the game after just being forced off the field with concussion is not where you should be! Get yourself checked out!
If you, or any of your teammates show any signs of concussion before, during or after a game, you must seek medical advice immediately.
A list of the most common symptoms of concussion are:
A headache which is persistent and not relieved by painkillers
Dizziness
Nausea
Memory Loss
Clumsiness / Balance Issues
Unusual Behaviour
Confusion
Visual Disturbances
Loss of Consciousness
There are guidelines the RFU has set out to try and reduce the incidence of concussion in rugby. These are:
1. Attitude to preparation – The importance of warming up to be both physically and mentally prepared for contact can often be overlooked.
2. Ensure the playing/training area is safe:
Suitable run–offs by the touchlines.
Appropriate protection padding on all posts and barriers on or close to the pitch.
Fit for purpose and regularly checked equipment.Â
Check the ground conditions – it may not be safe to play or train if the ground is frozen or very hard.Â
3. The RFU launched ‘Activate’ which is an injury prevention exercise program which aims to improve functional and core strength, balance and agility, all of which assist a player in dealing with the physical demands of the game.
4. It is important to know what good tackle technique is and how it can be performed consistently. Tackle technique is a skill a player should practice little and often. This is to ensure players are developing safe and effective techniques in varying ways and intensities.
An idea for developing safe tackle practice and techniques can be found in this video:
5. Law 9 of rugby is in place to help protect players and helps reduce the number on concussions.
Law 9 states: • Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others. • A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. • A player must not tackle an opponent who is not in possession of the ball. • A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground. • A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground. • Dangerous play in a ruck or maul - A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders. • A player must not attempt to kick the ball from the hands of the ball carrier.
These are just some of the measures in place to reduce the risk of concussion, however the RFU admits that rugby is a contact sport and although there is more that can be done to reduce the risk of concussion, they could never reduce that risk all together.
I hope you can tell from this post and my others that I am passionate about rugby. So, if you would like to talk to me about anything to do with injuries or concussion in rugby then please get in touch. I could talk for hours about it!
Commentaires