Effects of One Season of Rugby on the Neurological Integrity of Male Adolescent Players.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rugby union is a popular contact sport during which high impact collisions frequently occur. There is concern for the overall brain health of those playing the game, as concussion is a potential outcome of high impact collisions. Repeated sub-concussive collisions may compromise rugby players' neurological integrity, but little is known about the effects on young brains. The brain is still developing during adolescence and may generally be more susceptible to injury, but minimal objective research data are available regarding head acceleration events experienced by junior players.

Results

Forty-one adolescent male rugby players underwent pre- and post-season MRI scans and neuro-cognitive assessments. Participants were fitted with instrumented mouthguards to record

SUBMITTER: Henley S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932775 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature