Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2024 Apr 30;19(4):e0296646. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296646. eCollection 2024.
Numerous concussion-management protocols have been developed in rugby, though little is known about player's personal experiences of concussion. Specifically, research typically refers to clinical recovery, with social and psychological sequelae post-concussion gaining little attention. This study aimed to explore the experiences of rugby players in relation to being concussed and recovering from concussion. UK-based rugby players (10 men, 9 women and 1 non-binary person) from school, university, club, military and semi-professional teams took part in semi-structured interviews (36 ± 12 minutes). Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Players considered pitch-side healthcare a necessity, though amateur players highlighted the difficulty in consistently accessing this resource. In the absence of medical staff, players were reliant on the goodwill of volunteers, but their response to concussion did not always align with current concussion guidance. Players highlighted that concussion recovery could be socially isolating and that current return-to-play programmes did little to restore lost confidence, resulting in retirement from the game in some instances. Participants expressed a desire for more in-person concussion education and for greater coverage of holistic methods to support their recovery. This study highlights a need for further investigation of the post-concussion social and psychological changes that players may experience during their recovery. Greater focus on information relating to concussion recovery and return-to-contact in education programmes would likely benefit player welfare.
许多橄榄球运动中的脑震荡管理方案已经制定，尽管人们对球员个人脑震荡经历知之甚少。具体来说，研究通常指的是临床康复，而脑震荡后的社会和心理后遗症则很少受到关注。本研究旨在探讨橄榄球运动员在脑震荡和脑震荡康复方面的经历。来自学校、大学、俱乐部、军队和半职业队的英国橄榄球运动员（10 名男性、9 名女性和 1 名非二元性别者）参加了半结构化访谈（36±12 分钟）。访谈逐字记录，并进行了反思性主题分析。球员认为球场边的医疗保健是必要的，但业余球员强调很难始终获得这种资源。在没有医务人员的情况下，球员依赖志愿者的善意，但他们对脑震荡的反应并不总是符合当前的脑震荡指导方针。球员们强调，脑震荡康复可能会让人感到孤立无援，而且目前的重返赛场计划几乎没有恢复失去的信心，导致一些人退役。参与者表示希望接受更多的面对面脑震荡教育，并希望更多地采用整体方法来支持他们的康复。本研究强调了进一步研究运动员在康复期间可能经历的脑震荡后社会和心理变化的必要性。在教育计划中更加强调与脑震荡康复和重返接触相关的信息，可能会有益于球员的福利。
