Padded helmets unable to stop concussions in rugby
February 23rd, 2009 - 1:27 pm ICT by IANSSydney, Feb 23 (IANS) Permitted rugby headgear doesn’t stop concussions or head injury for rugby players, according to a major new study.
While individual players may choose to wear the padded headgear, its routine use cannot be recommended to reduce the chances of sustaining concussion while playing or training, the study found.
Based on 4,000 players aged between 12 and 20, the study was led by Andrew McIntosh, biomechanics expert in the University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Risk and Safety Sciences, working with colleagues at the Universities of Melbourne, Ballarat, Otago and Monash.
“Skull fractures and intracranial bleeding are rare in rugby injuries, but concussion is relatively common,” said McIntosh. “There’s some evidence that the standard headgear may prevent some minor head wounds but our study found that it was of no benefit in preventing concussion.”
The research was funded by the International Rugby Board (IRB) with support from the Australian Rugby Union, said an UNSW release. The findings were published in Sports & Exercise.
- Education, not helmets, stops rugby concussions: Study - Nov 04, 2010
- More padding on helmets would make soldiers safer: Research - Apr 23, 2011
- Human bite stronger than ape's - Jun 23, 2010
- Boxing injuries on the rise in US: Study - Mar 03, 2011
- Concussions should be taken seriously: Study - Jan 18, 2010
- Why Sun's outer atmosphere is millions of degrees hotter than its surface - Jan 07, 2011
- Kiwis hope new opening pair will repeat performance in Nagpur Test - Nov 19, 2010
- Fathers,not mothers, influence what children eat - Jun 10, 2011
- Breeding changes dog's brain - Aug 03, 2010
- Pregnant mums' oral care of utmost importance to baby too - Nov 24, 2010
- Footballers continue playing despite undiagnosed brain changes - Oct 08, 2010
- Domestic violence hits productivity at workplace - Dec 08, 2011
- Bump on head should not be ignored - Apr 16, 2012
- Scotland announces rugby squad for Commonwealth Games - Aug 11, 2010
- Hyderabad Test: McIntosh's ton helps Kiwis reach 258-4 on Day One - Nov 12, 2010
Tags: australian rugby union, ballarat, biomechanics, concussion, concussions, head injury, head wounds, helmets, international rugby board, irb, mcintosh, new south wales, otago, rugby players, safety sciences, skull, universities of melbourne, university of new south wales, unsw, working with colleagues