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Abstract:
Abstract: Although rugby is a contact sport played without
the benefit of helmets, the incidence of concussion is lower than
in other sports, including American football. The purpose of this
study was to determine the impact of rugby concussions on
neurocognitive function in a women's college team. Thirty-five
players (age=19) were tested before the season began. Pre-season, 6
of the 35 players (17%) reported having had at least one previous
concussion, and 16/35 (46%) reported at least one previous instance
of alteration of consciousness (AOC). A cross-sectional analysis
indicated that players with previous AOC performed significantly
worse on an executive function task. Players who sustained a
documented concussion during the year were re-tested, along with an
age-matched control, the week following injury and again after
three months. Players with new concussion showed significant
deficits on tests of memory and executive function compared to
baseline and matched control's performance. Although the incidence
of concussion in rugby is lower than expected, significant
neurocognitive sequelae result. The use of MRI diffusion-weighted
imaging techniques for revealing brain function deficits in rugby
concussions will also be discussed. Further research is needed to
determine differences in the mechanism of injury in rugby vs.
American football, as helmet use appears to be correlated with
higher incidence of concussion.
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