Does Headgear Prevent Sport-Related Concussion? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neurology
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Background:

• Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a significant concern in contact sports.
• Headgear (HG) is recommended by some sports organizations to prevent SRC.
• The effectiveness of HG in reducing SRC prevalence requires rigorous evaluation.

Approach:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
• Studies published between 1985 and 2023 were systematically searched across multiple databases.
• Data from 6311 players and 173,383 exposure hours were analyzed.

Key Points:

• The meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant reduction in SRC rates with HG use.
• The injury risk ratio for SRC was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.82-1.30; P = 0.79).
• No reduction in SRC per 1000 hours of exposure was observed in the HG group compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence from this meta-analysis does not support the use of headgear (HG) for preventing sport-related concussions (SRC) in soccer and rugby.
• The findings challenge the existing recommendations for HG use in these sports.
• Further research may be needed to explore other protective measures against SRC.