Evaluating the Probability of Head Acceleration Events in Elite Men's and Women's Rugby Union Match-Play: The Impact of Tackle Height and Body Position.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Head acceleration events (HAEs) are an increasing concern in collision sports owing to potential negative health outcomes.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to describe the probabilities of HAEs in tackles of differing heights and body positions in elite men's and women's rugby union.

Methods

Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) were worn in men's (n = 24 teams, 508 players, 782 observations) and women's (n = 26 teams, 350 players, 1080 observations) rugby union matches. Tackle height (i.e. point of contact on ball-carrier) and body positions of tacklers and ball-carriers were labelled for all tackles in which a player wore an iMG. HAEs from the initial impact were identified. Mean player, tackler and ball-carrier exceedance probabilities for various pea

SUBMITTER: Owen C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12513871 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature