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Rugby headgear and concussion prevention: misconceptions could increase aggressive play
Richard Menger1,2, Austin Menger3, Anil Nanda1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University of Health Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana;
Neurosurgical Focus
|April 2, 2016
Summary
Rugby headgear does not prevent concussions, yet many players believe it does. This misconception may lead to more aggressive play, increasing injury risk for all participants.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Rugby headgear is widely used, but scientific evidence shows it offers no statistically significant protection against concussions.
- A prevalent misconception exists among players that headgear prevents head injuries.
- This belief may influence player behavior and increase aggressive play.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of the misconception that rugby headgear prevents concussions among collegiate players.
- To determine if this misconception correlates with an increased likelihood of aggressive play.
- To assess the potential impact of this false sense of security on player safety in rugby.
Main Methods:
- An internet survey was administered to 122 male collegiate rugby players across 19 teams in the United States.
- Data collected included player demographics, experience, headgear use, playing time, prior contact sport experience, and beliefs about headgear efficacy.
- Survey questions also explored whether players would adopt a more aggressive playing style if wearing headgear.
Main Results:
- 38.1% of surveyed players believed headgear prevented concussions, despite no scientific evidence supporting this.
- 42.2% of players indicated they would play more aggressively if wearing headgear.
- Regression analysis revealed a significant association between the belief that headgear prevents concussions and a predisposition towards more aggressive play (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of collegiate rugby players hold misconceptions about the protective capabilities of headgear.
- This false sense of security may contribute to increased aggressive play, potentially elevating injury risks.
- Further research is needed to quantify the actual incidence of concussions in relation to headgear use in US rugby players.
