A pilot case crossover study of the use of padded headgear in junior Australian football.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To explore soft-shell padded headgear (HG) use, player behavior and injuries associated with HG in junior Australian football.

Methods

Prospective case-crossover with head impact measurement, injury surveillance and video review.

Results

40 players (mean age: 12.43 years, standard deviation: 1.36) across 15 matches were observed. Frequency of head/neck (p = 0.916) or body (p = 0.883) contact events, and match incidents were similar between HG and no HG conditions. Without HG, females had higher frequency of body contacts compared with males (p = 0.015). Males sustained more body contacts with HG than without HG (p = 0.013).

Conclusion

Use of HG in junior football was not associated with injury or head contact rate. Associations between HG use and body conta

SUBMITTER: Willmott C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9855304 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature