Spinal cord and brain tissue impairments as long-term effects of rugby practice? An exploratory study based on T₁ and ihMTsat measures.

ABSTRACT: Rugby players are subject to multiple impacts to their head and neck that could have adverse neurological effects and put them at increased risk of neurodegeneration. Previous studies demonstrated altered default mode network and diffusion metrics on brain, as well as more foraminal stenosis, disc protrusion and neck pain among players of contact sports as compared to healthy controls. However, the long-term effects of practice and repetitive impacts on brain and cervical spinal cord (cSC) of the rugby players have never been systematically investigated. In this study, 15 retired professional and amateur rugby players (R) and 15 age-matched healthy controls (HC) (all males; mean age R: 46.8 ± 7.6; and HC: 48.6 ± 9.5) were recruited both to investigate cord impairments and further character

SUBMITTER: Forodighasemabadi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9421542 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature